Seattle-area QFC stores are the first to undergo the transition to reusable bags, which will have a price tag of $1 or $2. As a temporary measure, customers will be able to use brown paper bags.

Kroger owns more than 2,700 stores, in two dozen different chains, across the U.S., in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the total number of customers in those stores on a daily basis is nearly 9 million.

QFC stores have a goal of 2019 for removing all access to single-use plastic bags. Nationwide, Kroger has a target date of 2025 for its plastic bag ban. Among the chains owned by Kroger are Food 4 Less, Harris Teeter, Pick 'n Save, and Ralphs.

Kroger's actions follow similar plans put in place by other large companies, by large cities in the U.S. and elsewhere, and even by countries:

• Disney recently announced a ban on plastic cups and straws.
• Starbucks is also getting rid of plastic straws.
• McDonald's is moving toward using environmentally friendly materials for its packaging
• Ikea has pledged to remove single-use plastic products from its offerings by 2020.
• California was the first American state to institute a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in 2014.
• In 2017, Hawaii passed a statewide ban on free bags handed out at grocery checkouts.
• New York is considering a similar bill for early 2019.
• Chile recently announced a nationwide ban on plastic bags.
• Panama enacted a similar ban in January 2018, giving all businesses a maximum of two years to stop using plastic carrier bags.
• China was an early adopter, banning free plastic shopping bags from its stores as early as 2008.
• Bangladesh was the first known country to ban such bags nationwide, in 2002.