Thread: Monthly Bag Ban Begins Saturday

BANGKOK — They hold our designer swag, muu ping street eats and 7-sourced convenience items. We even double down on our plastic fetish by bagging already bagged items as a prophylactic against the street grit “just in case one breaks.”

So is there any hope for Bangkok learning to live without the bag?

That question will be put to consumers Saturday when 15 retail outlets stop offering plastic bags as part of a campaign to turn the tide on the flood of plastic burying everything.

For one day, the 15th of each month, the retailers will cut customers off in hope of weaning them from their addiction to plastic and get them in the habit of carrying reusable bags.

“People who would like to buy goods in the shopping malls which have joined this campaign will have to prepare cloth bags and other types of bags for their goods,” environment official Pavinee Punnakanta said today.

She believes millions of plastic bags will be saved each day of the campaign.

Fortunately the giant retailers, who would likely enjoy some cost-saving, are on board with the plan. Although there’s been awareness of the problem, Jariya Chirathivat of the Thai Retailers Association said no one has wanted to take responsibility.

“Even though many shopping malls have been campaigning for reduced plastic bag use for the past eight years, the waste problem has not improved because each side believes the other should take initiative for fixing the problem,” he said.

The participating retailers are B2S, Big C, Tesco-Lotus, Foodland, Siam Makro, Robinson, Central Food Retail, Powerbuy, Homeworks and Supersports. Shopping mall developers The Mall Group, Central, Central Marketing Group and Rangsit Plaza said they will comply. So has 7-Eleven operator CP All, a division of Charoen Pokphand, one of the world’s largest conglomerates.

Life in Plastic: Monthly Bag Ban Begins Saturday

the first step should be to train them to put their plastic bags in a rubbish receptacle every time

Originally Posted by misskit

Makro

makro never gives plastic bags anyway

Originally Posted by baldrick

the first step should be to train them to put their plastic bags in a rubbish receptacle every time

Originally Posted by misskit

Makro

makro never gives plastic bags anyway

My Makro doesn't provide bags of any sort.

Heh...let's see how the corner Kway Tee Ow stalls get by giving you your noodles w/out a plastic bag!

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by baldrick

the first step should be to train them to put their plastic bags in a rubbish receptacle every time

Originally Posted by misskit

Makro

makro never gives plastic bags anyway

My Makro doesn't provide bags of any sort.

Heh...let's see how the corner Kway Tee Ow stalls get by giving you your noodles w/out a plastic bag!

Guess you have to bring your own bowl....

^ Someone on this forum stated he already brought his own bowl and cutlery to the noodle stand.

When I go to the noodle stand, I bring a nylon shopping bag to put all the little bags in. Makes the vendors happy. It's "good style" they say.

In Japan, they have used their own shopping bags for ages. The supermarkets add a charge to your bill if you use the disposable plastic ones. Wouldn't be a bad idea to do here.

Just a matter of getting into the habit.

..but it's not me (the customer) demanding so many bags! IT'S THEM!!! I've tried saying that everything will fit in bag but it just confuses them..

Expect a rise in teen pregnancies soon...

Plastic bags not a wise substitute for condoms: ministry - The Nation

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

And meanwhile, whole families are scooting around on that 1 motocye with the youngest smack dab in front w/no helmut!

Freedom at work again? They can't afford a car to put the seat in. So they make the best of what they have.

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

And meanwhile, whole families are scooting around on that 1 motocye with the youngest smack dab in front w/no helmut!

Freedom at work again? They can't afford a car to put the seat in. So they make the best of what they have.

At least they could get the kid a helmut...

...did we mention too that in many cases they are driving along the shoulder going the wrong way? -- sorry, off-topic.

Now, how about getting 7 to stop giving 13 straws for two beers and a load of bread. Misskits Japan thing would probably suit Thailand best.. Bring your own bags or pay for the plastic ones handsomely.

just went to big C and everything was plastic bagged

Same at foodland apparently.

Originally Posted by misskit

In Japan, they have used their own shopping bags for ages. The supermarkets add a charge to your bill if you use the disposable plastic ones.

Here in Seattle plastic bags are illegal and most grocery stores charge 50 cents per paper bag. So most of us here use our own nylon or hemp bags.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

...did we mention too that in many cases they are driving along the shoulder going the wrong way? -- sorry, off-topic.

Yes but that is freedom also?

UK also charge for plastic bags 5 pence each, strange walking out of M&S with your arms full of clothes un-bagged, must be a security nightmare.

Bring your own reusable bags....

Easy enough.

Originally Posted by baldrick

the first step should be to train them to put their plastic bags in a rubbish receptacle every time

Originally Posted by misskit

Makro

makro never gives plastic bags anyway

But Makro sell's them by the shit load!!
Makro should be made to only sell the eco friendly ones