In celebration of Earth Day, Kroger will give away reusable bags at each of its 16 Hampton Roads stores.

On April 22, the first 75 customers to enter stores after 9 a.m. will receive a free Zero Hunger Zero Waste reusable bag.

Stores will also have “Zero Hero” coloring sheets and other educational materials on waste available to shoppers who are interested in learning more about what they can do to be more environmentally conscious.

The giveaway is guided by Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative, a national effort aimed at ending hunger in the communities Kroger calls home and eliminating waste across the company by 2025.

Last year, Kroger announced plans to phase out single-use plastic bags and transition to reusable bags by 2025 in all stores. The phase-out began April 1 with Seattle-based QFC stores, the company’s first retail division to phase out plastic bags. Exact timing for the phase-out in the Hampton Roads area is to be determined.

“We know single-use plastic bags carry a high environmental burden, and we want to be part of the solution,” said Allison McGee, corporate affairs manager for Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “Many customers shared positive feedback after our announcement to phase out plastic bags in our stores, and we see this Earth Day giveaway as an opportunity to get reusable bags in the hands and carts of more of our customers while we work to make the change.”

Reusable bags are also available for purchase in store for as low as 99 cents. Several different options and price points are available to customers.

When a customer purchases a Zero Hunger Zero Waste reusable bag throughout 2019, Kroger will make a 25-cent donation to the World Wildlife Fund. Last year, Kroger was able to donate almost $70,000 to Feeding America through the purchases of reusable bags.

Kroger works year-round to fight waste in its stores by donating all eligible items through the Food Rescue program which directly supports Feeding America food banks and their partner agencies. Last year, Kroger Mid-Atlantic donated $5.5 million to charity and 3.2 million pounds of food to food bank partners.