Down to Earth, the health and natural food store chain, said it will switch to biodegradable plastic bags made in Hawai'i on Earth Day, April 22.

The change from conventional plastic bags will be done at no cost to customers. The four-store chain said it will use bags from 'Aiea-based Island Plastic Bags, Inc. that break down into water, carbon dioxide, and humus on land and in the ocean.

It said the new environmentally friendly bags completely biodegrade in 9 months to 5 years, and can be recycled along with regular plastic bags. Down to Earth said it considered a number of alternatives, including paper bags, but that these too carry environmental costs in that the take several times the energy to produce compared to plastic and include use of toxic chemicals in their manufacture.

In addition to biodegradable bags, Down to Earth offers a variety of reusable bags they have been selling for decades. The company credits five cents per bag to customers who reuse their bags.