Business | Economy
Carrefour heads for plastic-free future
MAF Hypermarkets yesterday introduced Dh2 reusable bags as an alternative to plastic ones at counters in Carrefour's 10 UAE outlets.
- By Robert Ditcham, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 27, 2007
- Image Credit: Tracy Brand/Gulf News
- Carrefour launches its ‘Small Change, Big Difference' campaign. From left: Sabra Thani, head of corporate communications, Majid Al Futtaim Group; Ebrahim Al Zu'bi, adviser to Emirates Diving Association and Jean Luc Graziato, vice-president of MAF Hypermarkets.
Dubai: MAF Hypermarkets yesterday introduced Dh2 reusable bags as an alternative to plastic ones at counters in Carrefour's 10 UAE outlets.
First introduced by Carrefour in 2004 in its French stores, the initiative will cut the retailer's consumption of plastic bags, which in the UAE currently stands at 100 tonnes per month.
Jean Luc Graziato, vice-president of marketing and sourcing at MAF Hypermarkets (Carrefour), said the company aims to cut consumption by five per cent initially, with an eventual target to phase them out completely.
But Graziato said the move would not harm plastics suppliers. "I don't think that Carrefour globally has a big impact on the plastics industry. These companies are not just producing light plastics for the retail industry."
MAF Hypermarkets has ordered an initial batch of 360,000 bags, the first of many, according to Graziato, even if customers fail to respond to the scheme.
"We have invested money into this long-term project and we don't want it to fail. We've already placed a second order and now we have to see the customer reaction. We started selling them at 9am and I received an SMS from the general manager saying they are moving already," he said.
Officials said the initiative is purely aimed at environmental protection and would not result in reduced operating costs. The reusable bags will soon be sold in Carrefour stores in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
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