WNAM MONITORING: Light, cheap and they can contain anything from solid to liquid; plastic bags have always been popular for grocery shopping in Việt Nam.
However, recognising the adverse effects of these non-biodegradable bags on the environment, retailers are advocating for changes in consumer habits.
July 3 this year marked the second time the Plastic Bag Reduction Retailers Alliance of Việt Nam celebrated the International Plastic Bag Free Day with various customer initiatives.
Nguyễn Thùy Anh, Senior Communications and Outreach Officer of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Việt Nam said: “This year’s campaign sees active participation from many businesses and this number is increasing. Several retailers are also implementing campaign activities nationwide, which is a good sign that shows their proactiveness.
“We hope that this campaign will not only take place on July 3, International Plastic Bag Free Day, but that businesses and retailers be more proactive in reducing the use of plastic bags all year round.”
As a member of the alliance, AEON Việt Nam now lets shoppers rent a reusable bag for their purchases at only VNĐ5,000 (20 US cents), which is fully refunded when they turn the bag at the counter.
The supermarket chain also has a ‘greenline’ – a priority check-out lane for customers who opt for environment-friendly products, with no plastic containers or packaging from its food court.
Central Retail Việt Nam, which owns GO!, BigC and Tops Market, has been calling for customers to bring their own shopping bags and giving out reusable ones on July 3.
Customers can also buy these multi-use bags at VNĐ9,000 on normal days, or choose the free, recycled cardboard boxes offered by the supermarket.
BigC Thăng Long supermarket director Nguyễn Minh Tuấn said: “This initiative aims to encourage customers to use these bags for multiple shopping trips.
“Additionally, we have collaborated with over 30 food suppliers to switch from plastic packaging to biodegradable materials.”
The changes and efforts have been met with positive response from customers.
Betty Adrian, an Indonesian woman who has lived in Việt Nam for the past seven years, said she only took the single-use bags the very first time she went shopping here.
“Every time I go to the supermarket or other shops, I always bring my own bags. If I use plastic, it’s not good for the earth,” she told Việt Nam News.
Other shoppers, like Ngô Thuyết, take it up a notch by mindfully bringing designated containers for their shopping trips.
“I bring my own insulated bag for frozen items, and another reusable bag for dry goods. When I buy a lot of things, I pack them up in cardboard boxes [at the cashier] to reduce the use of plastic bags,” she said.
