In February, Dallas-based GP Plastics announced that it was giving all of its newspaper customers the option of switching to PolyGreen "oxo-biodegradable, environmentally friendly plastic bags." The bags, which feature water-soluble inks and non-lead-based color concentrates, are expected to degrade in 2-3 years in a landfill. Bags "floating" as litter in the environment are expected to degrade within a few months. Because the bags are conventional plastics, they can also be recycled.

"[T]he folks at the Star-Tribune embraced the concept of oxo-biodegradation from the start," GP's CFO Mike Skinner said in a statement. "Over the next several months, many of our customers nationwide will convert to PolyGreen bags; however, this day belongs to the Star-Tribune, as it's not often you have the chance to lead the way."

We applaud the Strib for being a leader in helping the newspaper industry go green. Now if only it could do something about the tons and tons of wood pulp (trucked in on carbon dioxide-spewing trucks) that it uses on a daily basis.