Sporting goods retailer DICK’S Sporting Goods announced today that it is joining a consortium of retailers led by circular economy investment initiative Closed Loop Partners to replace the single use plastic bag. The company also announced a new commitment to remove all single-use point-of-sale plastic bags from its stores by 2025.

The ”Beyond the Bag” initiative was formed earlier this summer by Closed Loop Partners with founding retail members including Walmart, Target and CVS Health, Kroger and Walgreens. The initiative’s goal is to find a sustainable solution to replace the current single-use plastic bag, by identifying, testing and implementing viable alternative design solutions and models.

Peter Land, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer at DICK’S Sporting Goods, said:

“Our customers are outdoor enthusiasts who are passionate about working together to keep our planet clean and safe for future generations. Like our customers, we’re committed to doing what we can to prevent waste from ending up in our oceans and natural environment, and we look forward to working on the Beyond the Bag Initiative.”

According to the consortium, over 100 billion single-use plastic retail bags are used in the U.S. every year, and less than 10 percent of these are recycled. The average bag has a lifespan of up 1,000 years, yet is used for only approximately 12 minutes. Every year, plastic retail bags are among the top 10 items found on beaches and waterways worldwide.

Kate Daly, Managing Director of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, said:

“We want to realize a future in which waste is a thing of the past. DICK’S commitment to creating a more sustainable world for its customers makes them a perfect partner of the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag.”