Having made progress on light bulbs and hybrid cars, the growing green movement has grocery stores in mind next.

Starting on Earth Day, April 22, Whole Foods will no longer ask customers, “Paper or plastic?”

The national organic grocery store chain will no longer offer plastic bags as an option for customers to tote their groceries home.

This year, China and Australia will outlaw plastic bags. In the United States, San Francisco requires retailers to use only bags made of at least 40 percent recycled paper.

Whole Foods is the first national grocery chain to stop offering plastic bags. How soon will others follow, how will this affect retailer’s supply budgets?