The ban on single-use plastic bags in Pakistan was celebrated as a landmark step towards combating environmental degradation. It was a move that promised cleaner cities and a reduction in waste clogging our waterways. But what began as a well-intentioned environmental initiative has been hijacked by greedy businesses, turning a necessity into a profit-making scheme. Grocery stores and retailers across the country are now shamelessly exploiting consumers by charging for degradable shopping bags emblazoned with their own branding, a practice that is as unethical as it is infuriating.
Let us be clear: the purpose of banning plastic bags was to push society towards sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives, not to create a new revenue stream for businesses. Yet, what do we see? Consumers are being forced to pay for bags that carry the logos and marketing messages of these businesses. These bags, supposedly eco-friendly, are being sold at exorbitant prices, and consumers have no choice but to comply. This isn’t environmentalism; it’s exploitation, plain and simple.
Charging consumers for branded shopping bags is a textbook example of double-dipping. First, the stores charge full price for the bag under the pretext of environmental responsibility. Then, they benefit from the free advertising these bags provide as customers carry them around. It’s a cunning and unethical move that shifts the cost of advertising squarely onto the shoulders of consumers. Why should the public bear the financial burden of a company’s marketing campaign? These businesses are effectively monetizing their own advertising materials, and it’s the consumers who are paying the price. This is not just unfair; it’s downright outrageous.
Adding insult to injury, many stores do not offer plain, unbranded alternatives. Consumers are left with no choice but to pay for these branded bags. This lack of choice is a deliberate tactic designed to maximize profits. Retailers have turned a basic necessity—the ability to carry purchased goods—into a profit center. It is nothing less than coercion. Consumers are being forced to subsidize corporate advertising while being told they are contributing to an environmental cause. The hypocrisy is staggering.
The narrative that these charges are intended to promote environmental sustainability is a smokescreen. If businesses were genuinely committed to environmental responsibility, they would themselves bear the costs of non branded bags under their own CSR initiative which every business is obligated to undertake. The consumers who forget to bring their own homemade reusable bags should be offered unbranded, cost-effective options. But in no way any price of bags carruing branding of any seller should be charged. Instead, they exploit the ban on plastic bags to inflate their profits under the guise of eco-friendliness. This practice undermines public trust in environmental initiatives and risks alienating consumers from the cause of sustainability altogether.
What’s worse, there seems to be no regulatory oversight to curb this exploitation. Businesses operate with impunity, charging whatever they please for these branded bags. Where are the consumer protection authorities? Where are the regulations ensuring that these practices are fair and transparent? The silence from policymakers is deafening, and it’s the average citizen who suffers the consequences. Consumer Rights Advocacy (CRA) is taking stand against this blatant exploitation with the cooperation of the consumers. Let us bycott the vedors who charge any cost of their branded shopping bags. Ensure that such bags should always be bio-degradable and even if some price is to be paid for unbranded biodegradable bags, the consumers must insist for the same as the consumers shall also be contributing towards mitigation of evvironment concerns. We cannot allow businesses to exploit environmental policies for their own gain while pretending to champion sustainability.
The cost of these bags, especially those carrying a store’s branding, should be borne by the businesses themselves. If a bag is a marketing tool, its cost should be included in the store’s advertising budget, not passed on to the consumer. It is entirely unreasonable to expect customers to pay for something that primarily benefits the retailer. Businesses should either provide these branded bags entirely free and non-branded biodegradable bags at a significantly subsidized rate. Anything less is unacceptable.
Moreover, the lack of transparency surrounding the pricing of these bags is another issue that cannot be ignored. Consumers are rarely informed about the actual cost of production or the profit margin on these so-called eco-friendly bags. This opacity allows businesses to charge inflated prices without accountability. If retailers claim to be environmentally responsible, they must also be transparent about their pricing practices. Anything less is a betrayal of the trust consumers place in them.
The current practice also contradicts the broader goals of the plastic bag ban. The ban was meant to encourage sustainable behavior, such as using reusable bags, not to create a new market for disposable ones. By focusing on profit rather than sustainability, businesses are undermining the very purpose of the ban. This shortsighted approach could erode public support for environmental initiatives, making it harder to implement similar policies in the future.
It is high time for policymakers to step in and address this issue. Regulations must be introduced to ensure that businesses do not exploit environmental policies for profit. Retailers should be required to offer unbranded, cost-effective alternatives and encouraged to promote reusable bags. The practice of charging for branded bags must be curtailed or eliminated altogether. If a bag carries a store’s branding, it should be considered a marketing expense, not a consumer obligation.
Consumers, too, must take a stand. We must refuse to accept these exploitative practices and demand accountability from businesses and policymakers alike. Bring your own reusable bags. Question the charges imposed by retailers. Voice your concerns to consumer rights organizations and regulatory authorities. The only way to combat this exploitation is through collective action.
The exploitation of consumers under the guise of environmental responsibility is a betrayal of the public trust. Businesses must be held accountable for their unethical practices, and policymakers must ensure that environmental initiatives are implemented fairly and transparently. The Consumer Rights Advocacy (CRA) calls on all stakeholders—consumers, businesses, and regulators—to work together to put an end to this exploitation. Environmental responsibility and consumer fairness are not mutually exclusive. It is time to reclaim the spirit of the plastic bag ban and ensure that it benefits both the environment and the people. ( The writer is: President Consumer Rights Advocacy, can be reached at [email protected]) ( This article reflects author’s opinion and not necessarily the views of WNAM)
