Source: CCTV.com

01-11-2008 11:37

Plastic bags will no longer be free for customers in China come June 1st. Many supermarkets have begun making plans to help customers get used to the change and nurture environmentally-friendly habits.

Plastic bags will no longer be free for  customers in China come June 1st. Many  supermarkets have begun making plans to  help customers get used to the change and  nurture environmentally-friendly habits.

At some supermarkets in Kunming, people have to pay for their plastic bags at the cashier. And paper bags, instead of plastic bags, are now used for vegetables, meat and cooked food. To help people get used to the change, supermarkets have developed a long-term plan.

Zhu Jiannan, Storekeeper of Minsheng Supermarket said "We will launch a campaign in nearby communities in March and April, and we will give residents cloth bags that we made for free."

For customers' convenience, some large-scale supermarkets in Shanghai have started offering degradable plastic bags.

Jin Guoping, Storekeeper of Lianhua Supermarket said "Degradable plastic bags are provided for customers who want to buy seafood or meat in our market."

Recycled bags can also be found at some supermarkets in Nanjing, and some supermarkets are considering replacing plastic bags with recycled bags.

Zheng Xia, Assistant to Manager of PR Deparment of Carrefour said "In the long-run, customers will come to understand that recycled bags are beneficial to them."

Many Chinese citizens are willing to pay for plastic bags. It may actually be harder to get retailers and producers of thin plastic bags to get in the habit.

Editor:Xiong Qu