SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Co-opportunity, Santa Monica's natural food cooperative and source for organic and local products since 1974, announced today its corporate sponsorship of Heal the Bay. Co-opportunity is joining Heal the Bay's Corporate Healer Beach Cleanup program as a Major sponsor, with a $5,000 donation. The Corporate Healer sponsorship is part of Co-opportunity's revamped reusable bag program.

"We are thrilled to do our part in helping Heal the Bay achieve its mission of keeping our beaches clean," said Bruce Palma, general manager of Co-opportunity. "As a co-op, our mission and vision centers on creating a positive environmental impact. And with the City of Santa Monica's recent plastic bag ban, and April being the month of Earth Day, we felt the timing was right for this sponsorship," said Palma.  

"We're very grateful to Co-opportunity for their support of our efforts to fight plastic pollution," said Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay. "We're excited that Co-opportunity will be helping to clean up one of our local beaches.  As a Corporate Healer, they will be making our beaches even more beautiful and learning firsthand about the impacts of urban runoff and trash on our coasts and in Santa Monica Bay.  Their reusable bag program will make a big difference for the ocean. "

Co-opportunity's new bag initiative, which goes into effect on May 1st, is meant to fully comply with the city of Santa Monica's recent plastic bag ban ordinance. As such, Co-opportunity will also be partnering with the City of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment on its reusable bag program. The city has selected Co-opportunity as the first retail business to receive hands-on training on how to communicate the plastic bag ban to shoppers. Co-opportunity's Owners and shoppers should note that as of September 1, 2011 and potentially sooner, there will no longer be any Co-opportunity plastic bags available at the register.

Previously, Co-opportunity's Owners received a five-cent rebate for every reusable bag they used. Instead of the five-cent rebate, Co-opportunity's Owners will now be entered into a monthly sweepstakes where winners will be rewarded with $25 gift cards (this offer is applicable to Co-op Owners only). In addition to the free reusable bags all Co-opportunity Owners receive upon joining the Co-op, there will also be reusable bags created by Green Vets L.A. for sale.

"This change isn't about squeezing more profit out of operations," said Palma. "The revamped reusable bag program is about the shared sacrifice we all need to make in order to dramatically reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans and landfills, while also making our local economy more sustainable.  To show you we're serious, we're putting our money where our mouth is and are donating $5,000 to Heal the Bay," said Palma.

Co-opportunity will kick off the reusable bag sweepstakes at the Heal the Bay's monthly "Nothin' But Sand" beach cleanup event on April 16, from 10 am-noon at Will Rogers State Beach.  

About Co-opportunity

Co-opportunity, a natural foods cooperative, has been providing natural, organic and local products to the Santa Monica area since 1974. The Co-op, which is also open to the public, is community owned and operated and believes economic power should be situated locally, where it has the best chance to create and sustain vibrant, livable communities. Learn more at coopportunity.com.

Contact

Ricardo Chavira
Marketing Director
ricardo@coopportunity.com
(310) 451-8902 x222

SOURCE Co-opportunity