7-Eleven launches campaign to 'reduce and stop' use of plastic bags

By The Nation

 

 

Following its “7 Go Green” policy, CP All, the founder of 7-Eleven in Thailand, has begun a campaign to “reduce and stop” plastic bags at its stores nationwide.

 

In a press release issued by the company on Thursday, Tanin Buranamanit Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CP All, the founder of 7-Eleven in Thailand, said that CP All has initiated the project to encourage the public to reduce and stop plastic bags since 2007. 

 

The firm said it is determined to nourish sustainable environment via the company’s various programs, in accordance with CP ALL’s brand purpose “giving and sharing opportunities for all”.

 

Tanin said: “We use this month to announce our mission to reduce and stop plastic bags in 7-Eleven stores nationwide. We urge all Thais to simply stop using one plastic bag per day, everyday. Doing so would help mitigate global warming. CP All had received the cooperation from the consumers and tourists using 7-Eleven services in the efforts. They recognized the negative impacts of plastic bags on the globe. 

 

“We are planning to express our gratitude toward our customers who refuse plastic bags by awarding them with points for the 7 Value Card. 7-Eleven stores nationwide will give 10 points to customers who use 7 Value Card and refuse plastic bags. CP All also has other similar programs, such as the 'say no to plastic bags' and the 'using cloth bags and saying no to plastic bags'.”

 

The company recently extended the plastic bag reduction initiatives to universities, hospitals, and natural tourist attractions, deeming that these places are important to the push for Thailand’s tourism industry’s growth. 

 

To achieve that goal while conserving the environment in these natural tourist attractions, the company had introduced the “preserving the Andaman Sea, reducing plastic bags” activity.

 

The event was a joint effort among CP Group, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Green World Foundation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, national parks on several islands, various local communities, and the public. 

 

These activities had been held in Lanta, Yao Noi-Yao Yai, Lipe, Phi Phi, Tao, and Samet islands. CP All and its alliances in each island have organised these campaigns to encourage youths, tourists and members of the public to reduce and abolish plastic bags. It is also one of the initiative’s objectives to instil the new behaviour that caters to the sustainable conservative tourism.

 

“The company invited all people to reduce and stop plastic bags through four campaigns in 7-Eleven stores in the participating islands.

 

They are stopping the use of the small plastic bags except for hot food; abolishing plastic cap seals for water bottles; replacing plastic packs for straws with paper packs; and installing bins for waste separation in all 7-Eleven stores, in order to manage garbage from the upstream for the community.

 

We have also established communication plans to promote the movement to reduce and abolish the use of plastic bags in all forms”, stated Tanin.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30358155

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-08

Hope they have counselling centres to help the staff get through it all or will it be cold-turkey.

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

We urge all Thais to simply stop using one plastic bag per day, everyday. Doing so would help mitigate global warming.

Hilarious.

So no more take away drinks and ready meals in a plastic box then. 

One would hope they give away the canvas bags for free, or at least free with every xx amount of purchase.

27 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Hilarious.

At a guess 1 less per person per day means about 1% reduction??????

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Following its “7 Go Green” policy, CP All, the founder of 7-Eleven in Thailand,

 

The franchise holder of 7-Eleven should be more correct

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

the founder of 7-Eleven in Thailand, said that CP All has initiated the project to encourage the public to reduce and stop plastic bags since 2007

Absolute rubbish.

More than a year ago I saw on the 7 Eleven website a CSR statement about them doing this, having previously trialled it in a few branches.

The page said staff were now supposed to ask customers making a single item purchase if they wanted a bag.

 

I emailed 7 Eleven customer service to ask why my branch didn't do this. No reply. I emailed a second time a few weeks later, still no reply.

What they say on their website and PR statements has nothing to do with how they operate in reality.

As long as they still sell bananas in plastic bags, that get put into a plastic bag, after you bought it...

As longs as they put ice-cream cones into plastic bags...

As long as they give you a straw, with every drink you buy, because Thais are obviously not able to drink form a can or bottle without soiling themselves...

As long as you get a plastic spoon, with every ....

 

To cut a long story short: it will not happen!

"...CP All, the founder of 7-Eleven in Thailand..."

 

I suggest the Nation reporters get their facts straight.

 

Wikipedia:  "CP All Public Company Limited, was established in 1988 by the Charoen Pokphand Group to operate convenience store businesses in Thailand under the 7-Eleven trademark. The company was granted a license to use the trademark by 7-Eleven, Inc., USA. In 1989, the first 7-Eleven outlet in Thailand was opened on Patpong Road.^[4]"'

 

In simple English 7/11 is a master brand / the master brand is not owned by CP All or CP.

 

CP All holds a franchise in Thailand from the offshore owners of the master brand, allowing CP All to use the 7/11 name, logo, colours, branding etc., and CP All must operate the shops within the very detailed and strict rules of the offshore master brand owner.

 

Also true, there are some 7/11 outlets in Thailand that are not under CP All, these outlet operators have franchises direct with the offshore master brand owner. 

 

Why is it so difficult for the English language (and Thai language) media to publish fully correct reports?

 

Edited November 8, 20187 yr by scorecard

Now THAT is some news!!  Bravo!! 7-11  May the country follow their lead.

 "7-Eleven in Thailand, has begun a campaign to “reduce and stop” plastic bags at its stores nationwide."

 

The goal is to achieve this so it coincides with the establishment of fair elections, a true and functional democracy, and the elimination of corrupt public officials. 

 

Closest estimated timeline...4-8 lifetimes.

Edited November 8, 20187 yr by jaltsc

That is one fine photo opp...Saddly thailand will never ever reduce its plastics and foam...the mind set the shamlessness and the street vendors will see to that..

1 minute ago, jaltsc said:

 7-Eleven in Thailand, has begun a campaign to “reduce and stop” plastic bags at its stores nationwide.

So it's a policy to harass plastic bags now, guessing they will reduce them to tears too.

'We urge all Thais to simply stop using one plastic bag per day, everyday.'

 

One!? One!? There's usually at least two or three to each customer when I am in there. Main large bag of mixed groceries + a smaller item that is hot from the microwave/toaster in it's own smaller plastic bag + a polythene or plastic wrapped banana or the like - and sometimes they even want to put that in a separate little bag that then goes inside the large one. And then there's the straws and plastic utensils - often individually wrapped in their own plastic sheath. It beggars belief.

 

Good luck 7/11, you and the Thai people are very clearly plastic junkies. I wish them every success with this campaign as we all know it's sorely needed. I won't hold my breath though.

Edited November 8, 20187 yr by CanterbrigianBangkoker

48 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Absolute rubbish.

More than a year ago I saw on the 7 Eleven website a CSR statement about them doing this, having previously trialled it in a few branches.

The page said staff were now supposed to ask customers making a single item purchase if they wanted a bag.

 

I emailed 7 Eleven customer service to ask why my branch didn't do this. No reply. I emailed a second time a few weeks later, still no reply.

What they say on their website and PR statements has nothing to do with how they operate in reality.

Not that long back I listened to a Thai professor try to explain to the local 7 shop assistants (in Thai language) why she didn't want a plastic bag or a straw.

 

It was clear her discussion points about the environment were simply not understood.

 

So a question, has 7/11 given any briefings / simple handouts to staff (perhaps in quick cartoon form) to give them even a simple overview / understanding of why they are trying to reduce plastic usage? She looked at me and said in English 'I give up'.

 

 

A year back one of my visiting professor colleagues from Norway noticed a small newspaper article in a Thai English daily about plastic bags.

 

Just after the class started he distributed the handout, about 30 students.

Then he said I want every student to bring to the front platform every plastic bag and straw and leave them on the platform). About 75 different sized plastic bags. The bags many with straws stayed on the platform.

 

After the morning coffee break he did the same again, about 60 more bags. (both 7 and family mart and other small shops are close nearby).

 

Same thing after lunch and the afternoon coffee break.

 

A final count for the day - about 280 plastic bags many with straws in the bags.

 

He told the students, in small teams to:

 

- Calculate approximately how many plastic bags per day for the whole university.

- Calculate approximately how many plastic bags per day for all universities in Thailand.

- Calculate approximately how many plastic bags for all Thai universities for one year.

 

Bottom line, the whole exercise had no impact whatever.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 20187 yr by scorecard

7/11 staff have always looked at me as if I'm crazy when I tell them I don't want a plastic bag. 

21 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Not that long back I listened to a Thai professor try to explain to the local 7 shop assistants (in Thai language) why she didn't want a plastic bag or a straw.

 

It was clear her discussion points about the environment were simply not understood.

 

So a question, has 7/11 given any briefings / simple handouts to staff (perhaps in quick cartoon form) to give them even a simple overview / understanding of why they are trying to reduce plastic usage?

I like your question as to whether 7 Eleven has explained to staff in straightforward language as to the idea behind this.

If they have any literature in all the branches, I'll sure someone will try to get me to eat a non-bio-degradable plastic bag.

 

When I buy a bottle of milk, I always tell the staff I don't want a plastic bag. Once, I was slightly slow in telling the cashier. She had her hand on a plastic bag inside the pack of hundreds. When I told her, she still pulled the brand new plastic bag out of the pack, and threw it straight into the bin.

 

Staff have never asked me if I want a plastic bag when making a single item purchase. Are there any branches which are proactive in asking customers this question - as 7 Eleven claim?

 

I'd like to think there are but don't hold out much hope.

Anyone?

Edited November 8, 20187 yr by bluesofa

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

I like your question as to whether 7 Eleven has explained to staff in straightforward language as to the idea behind this.

If they have any literature in all the branches, I'll sure someone will try to get me to eat a non-bio-degradable plastic bag.

 

When I buy a bottle of milk, I always tell the staff I don't want a plastic bag. Once, I was slightly slow in telling the cashier. She had her hand on a plastic bag inside the pack of hundreds. When I told her, she still pulled the brand new plastic bag out of the pack, and threw it straight into the bin.

 

Staff have never asked me if I want a plastic bag when making a single item purchase. Are there any branches which are proactive in asking customers this question - as 7 Eleven claim?

I'd like to think there are but don't hold out much hope. Anyone?

 

Handout to explain to staff, in a much earlier senior position in Thailand i was well ware that 99% of the company staff had never had anything explained to them.

 

I started  a process to get them informed. I instructed the admin. manager to write a quick handout (numbered and dated) in Thai and English to be given to every staff member after every meeting or whatever. She fought me / refused on the basis it was not necessary and a waste of time. I sacked her (there were other reasons).

 

I recruited a new admin. mngr telling her in the first interview that I wanted a quick handout to staff....  She agreed and said 'what a good idea'. She got the job and was fabulous at quickly producing these handouts.

 

I ten started a fun quiz process, about 2 or 3 days a week 'who can share the details about... from your staff bulletin yesterday, dn the first answer, if correct, got free lunch.

 

It worked, the staff loved it and quickly I got direct comments from staff telling they now understand why the company makes certain decisions / i'm now able to give customer much better information and it impresses our customers...

 

Yes a bit of work but well worth it. 

 

 

16 minutes ago, seahorse said:

7/11 staff have always looked at me as if I'm crazy when I tell them I don't want a plastic bag. 

Actually my local Family Mart staff have started asking if I want a bag with my purchase. They have been doing so for 6 months or better

Just now, toolpush said:

Actually my local Family Mart staff have started asking if I want a bag with my purchase. They have been doing so for 6 months or better

That's great! It really is. It seems they're miles ahead of 7 Eleven on this one.

Around here the bags are tied to barb wire fence so the livestock can see it.what a sorry looking countryside it looks and they all get blown off from time to time.makro has the best idea.decent bags you have to buy or nothing.ive yet to have come across a makro bag littering a soi.

No bags! What are people supposed to wear on their heads now when it rains?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the founder of 7-Eleven in Thailand, said that CP All has initiated the project to encourage the public to reduce and stop plastic bags since 2007. 

Well, I  guess that was one boardroom initiative that never filtered down to the sales staff. I take a Makro bag with me to 7 and they STILL try to put items into a plastic bag, then into my re-usable bag...........

4 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

No bags! What are people supposed to wear on their heads now when it rains?

Another plastic item that should be avoided...''one time use desposeable rain suits'' ....

They should immediately put a sign in BOLD Thai and probably English, Chinese and Russian next to the straws that just says something simple like “Staff will no longer be including straws” probably can reduce straw use in half in one week.  Really if they try to slip 3 straws for one beer after that we can just point to the sign. How many of us have a lifetime straw collection at home or in the car? 

1 minute ago, alex8912 said:

They should immediately put a sign in BOLD Thai and probably English, Chinese and Russian next to the straws that just says something simple like “Staff will no longer be including straws” probably can reduce straw use in half in one week.  Really if they try to slip 3 straws for one beer after that we can just point to the sign. How many of us have a lifetime straw collection at home or in the car? 

I just simply refuse them. Quite easy really.

1 minute ago, Throatwobbler said:

I just simply refuse them. Quite easy really.

Yes but the girl gets them in the bag so fast , then she has to dig through everything to get them out and the people in the line up behind start moaning and by that time you think ,its just a few straws.....its a daily beat down out their..

Yesterday the TV showed army and police gave out hundreds of meals for some folks- served in styrofoam. They need another golden bell to prevent waste and pollution.

By the time you take out money from wallet, you item put in a plastic bags, i have remove them.

I saw someone bought cigarettes, but he got a plastic spoon, fork and straw in plastic bag with the pack of cigarettes. ????

Keep wide open your eyes, move your stuff towards yourself after scanning to avoid staff put them in bags.

 

How can we change this 7-11 ?

7-11 should open "NO BAGS" counter and give extra discount stamps or credit points for customers, that solution can work.

Went grocery shopping at Tops last Saturday and filled up a big push cart to the brim....usual things meat groceries etc....then went to check out long lines! Asked why it’s so slow as many people were waiting and frustrated....ummh?

guess what Tops “First day of the month”....they don’t give out or supply plastic bags for customers!!!

no warning or staff telling you this at the entrance....no after one(1) hour of time wasted then tel say “oh sorry no bags today...1st day of month.

left cart at check out and I checked out!!

kinda crazy w NO warning!