Geant initiative to help cut plastic

Dubai: Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) and Geant hypermarket have announced a joint initiative aimed at encouraging shoppers to reduce their consumption of plastic bags.

EWS, in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) received a Dh150,000 cheque from the French-based chain at Ibn Battuta Mall on Tuesday.

The move comes as Gulf News' campaign urging people to say 'No to Plastic Bags' gathers pace across the country. Geant started charging customers 25 fils per plastic bag in February 2008 in a bid to encourage customers to use natural reusable jute bags instead.

The proceeds raised through the sale of plastic bags are to go towards funding a EWS-WWF environmental education and awareness programme.

Jean-Marc Lebrun, Group General Manager of Geant, said: "While plastic bags are versatile, convenient and cheap to use, they are extremely harmful to the environment.

"We decided the best way to stop our customers using bags unnecessarily was to attach a minor cost to them, and due to customer participation, the result is a reduction in the use of plastic by over eight tonnes in the past three months.

"We thank our valuable customers for their great support and effort to help save the environment. The proceeds from plastic bags will now go towards EWS-WWF who will help us raise environmental awareness among the community."

Lebrun believes the role of the media is vital in order to create awareness. Gulf News' campaign has drawn a huge response from schools, universities, municipalities, supermarkets and environmentalists.

Lebrun said: "Gulf News is doing a very good job. The UAE is the first country in the region to start tackling this threat. Other GCC countries take note of what is happening here so the UAE has a very important role to play."

Ida Tillisch, Director of Business Development and Marketing of EWS-WWF, told Gulf News the society still hadn't decided how to spend the funds.

"We have one programme in mind that involves children in the UAE and all over the world because it is an online initiative," she said.

PEOPLE SPEAK

Pipsa Jaamaa, Finland
"I hardly ever use plastic bags and that has been the case throughout my entire life. Supermarkets in Finland charge for plastic carriers so I am used to carrying reusable bags."

Huma Ikramullah, Pakistan
"My daughter learnt about the dangers posed by plastic bags at school and she pestered us to stop using them. I agree with her and we stopped using plastic carriers. I prefer using jute bags."

Linzay Canham, Scotland
"I always used jute bags back home in the UK and I think it's fantastic supermarkets have started using them here in the UAE. But I have to admit I sometimes forget to bring my jute bag when I'm shopping."

Have your Say
Have you been affected by the Gulf News Say No to Plastic Bags campaign? Do you think that other retailers should also charge for plastic bags or ban them completely? Why? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com