Canadian Grocer Metro, Inc. has introduced a "Leave it Greener" initiative at all of its supermarket banners, to promote principles and values that encourage environmentally responsible behavior.

Shoppers at Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, and Marche Richelieu supermarkets in Quebec will see display cards spotlighting eco-friendly products in store aisles, the grocer said. The cards, in a "Did you know that..." format, will point customers to green products such as phosphate-free laundry detergents, concentrated formulas requiring less packaging, and products made from 100 percent recycled material.

Meanwhile customers at A&P, Dominion, Ultra Food & Drug, The Barn, and Loeb locations in Ontario will find similar cards, only with a "How we're helping..." message.

Additionally, to spur environmental awareness in children, this spring, A&P Canada launched a reusable bag contest where children up to grade six had a chance to design the companys newest reusable bag. The winning design was submitted by Katelyn, a senior kindergarten student from Milton, Ont., whose design will be made into the company's newest reusable bag, which will be in stores beginning September 2008. As the winner of the contest, Katelyn receives 5,000 Air Miles.

Leave it Greener was originally meant to urge Metro employees to adopt responsible consuming habits. Each employee was given a reusable cup for his or her daily beverage, since a single Styrofoam cup takes over 400 years to biodegrade.

"Such initiatives are important to us. As a company, we have to act responsibly towards the environment," said. Metro v.p., marketing Serge Boulanger in a statement. "On the other hand, our customers want to be better informed about what they can do, so that they can, in turn, adopt a more eco-friendly behavior."

Metros green initiatives include a reusable shopping bag; a circular printed with vegetable ink on paper made of 100 percent recycled wood and paper waste; trucks that travel at a speed no more than 90 kilometers per hour, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and the systematic recycling of packaging boxes and plastic wrappers at stores and warehouses.

Metro operates a network of close to 600 food stores under the Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, A&P, Dominion, Loeb, and Food Basics banners, as well as over 250 pharmacies under the Brunet, Clini Plus, The Pharmacy, and Drug Basics names.