Tesco Lotus Launches 'Green Bag' Project In Phuket

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Tesco launches 'green bag' project in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Tesco Lotus Senior Corporate Affairs Manager Charkrit Direkwattanachai poses with two Phuket students, both winners of an art competition held to raise public awareness about the need to recycle and reuse.

PHUKET: -- Leading retail chain Tesco Lotus launched a pilot project at its new Thalang branch in Phuket yesterday with the aim of reducing plastic bag use nationwide.

The project is intended to encourage customers at all its stores in Phuket to use fewer plastic bags in order to help preserve the island’s natural beauty for future generations.

The project is part of a 1.2-million-baht campaign in partnership with the Phuket Energy Office that includes the distribution of 30,000 reusable bags to Phuket customers.

At the launch yesterday, 500 “green bags” were handed out.

Since July, Phuket customers have also been rewarded with 20 “Clubcard Card” points for reusing a bag. Tesco Lotus also plans to launch a “One Day No Plastic Bag” campaign in 2012.

“Tesco Lotus is committed to caring for the environment and helping our customers reduce their impact on it. We are therefore delighted that we have been able to work with the Phuket local authorities to encourage reduced plastic bag usage and educate children about the need to protect the environment,” said Tesco Lotus Senior Corporate Affairs Manager Charkrit Direkwattanachai.

“This will help ensure that the natural beauty of this world famous island is maintained for future generations,” he added.

To support the activity, staff are being trained to encourage customers to start using reusable bags. Tesco Lotus also plans to take learning from its campaign in Phuket when it rolls out similar initiatives in stores at other tourist destinations around the country in the future.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2011/article11719.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-12-16

[phaethon]

The project is intended to encourage customers at all its stores in Phuket to use fewer plastic bags in

(my underlining)

Are they kidding? Have you tried getting a Tesco (or any other store) cashier to use less than one bag per item?

[siamdivers]

Great news indeed, although correct, the staff is going to need a heck of a lot of training to get them to change their previous bad habits. I get so tired of having to say over and over again, "one bag is enough" in Thai and explain to the cashier that too many bags are not good for the environment and scenic beauty. Some roll their eyes at me, others smile (condescendingly), rarely do I get them to say "good idea!" or "Thank you!"

Now if Tesco would stop selling sharkfin products I just may start shopping there on a regular basis.

[stevenl]

Great news indeed, although correct, the staff is going to need a heck of a lot of training to get them to change their previous bad habits. I get so tired of having to say over and over again, "one bag is enough" in Thai and explain to the cashier that too many bags are not good for the environment and scenic beauty. Some roll their eyes at me, others smile (condescendingly), rarely do I get them to say "good idea!" or "Thank you!"

Now if Tesco would stop selling sharkfin products I just may start shopping there on a regular basis.

Some years ago they were selling shark fins, so we petitioned their head quarters in the UK and they stopped selling them at the time. I hardly ever visit Tesco, but are they selling them again? Maybe you can start something again and stop it.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I always take my own cloth, reuseable bags when I go shopping...

If I let the Tesco staff put my stuff in their plastic bags, I'll end up with 6 different bags to carry by hand...and the plastic cutting into my fingers....

If I use my own cloth bags, I don't have to worry about them breaking/tearing unlike the plastic if one gets a hole pokes in it by something inside... And I can carry my entire purchase in just one or two of my own bags.

[moskito]

Anyway, it wouldnt help TESCO to go down more and more and loose here in Phuket. Supercheap is not really SuperCheap but CHEAP is the most important word here. Thais are loving it, so do the Farangs and there are more and more convenience stores of this company. Fortunately SuperCheap has it all.....while since Bangkok Flood many of the LOTUS shops have nothing or not all like usual.

But OK, Tesco is making much money with the Russians at the moment....guess 18 out of 20 Farang customers are from Russia....they dont eat in Restaurants, they dont visit bars, they buy in Lotus and cook at home....

Anyway, nice effort but first Tesco should educate its staff not to hand out 2 bags for every item (((:

[cronus]

No more free bags! Start charging 1THB per Bag, similar as in China and you will see how fast people will learn to bring their own bag. I get sick of seeing how some guys get their stuff packed in dozens of small plastic bags just to put them back to their shopping cart and then unload the dozens of small bags in their car later....

[Guest]

The project is intended to encourage customers at all its stores in Phuket to use fewer plastic bags in

(my underlining)

Are they kidding? Have you tried getting a Tesco (or any other store) cashier to use less than one bag per item?

This has been going on for some time at Thalang branch. They do give fewer bags than other shops. Go and give it a try.

[spidermike007]

I have been carrying my own bags now. I drive a scooter, and always keep a few bags under my seat. They are the large grocery style bags, made out of recycled materials, and I use one 500 or so times. When I shop at the grocery store, I bring these bags. Even though I place it where they are loading the groceries, they still start loading up the plastic bags. One or two items per bag. I say, no I want to use my own bag, and 90% of the time they look at me like I am from another planet. I reach over, and remove my items from their plastic bags, and start putting them into mine. Then they get it. But, they still have zero environmental awareness. It is part of the Thai culture. It is the "zero environmental awareness culture". No concept of what the use of plastic means to the planet, or their country. No concept of where that plastic ends up, nor where it came from. When I go to my favorite restaurants I bring the re-usable plastic containers, to avoid using another styrofoam container. Same reaction. What are you doing? Why don't you like plastic? What is wrong with plastic? We think plastic is great. One must understand that Thailand is one generation removed from a completely tribal existence. So, for them plastic is wonderful. Some education is required. I guess foreign companies like Tesco have a responsibility, and perhaps this is a good start. Baby steps, but a good start in creating a tiny bit of awareness.

[spidermike007]

I always take my own cloth, reuseable bags when I go shopping...

If I let the Tesco staff put my stuff in their plastic bags, I'll end up with 6 different bags to carry by hand...and the plastic cutting into my fingers....

If I use my own cloth bags, I don't have to worry about them breaking/tearing unlike the plastic if one gets a hole pokes in it by something inside... And I can carry my entire purchase in just one or two of my own bags.

Good move. It starts with people like you setting the example. You are personally saving thousands of bags a year. Yes, one person does make a difference. A huge difference. That is where it starts. With ones self.

[craigt3365]

I always take my own cloth, reuseable bags when I go shopping...

If I let the Tesco staff put my stuff in their plastic bags, I'll end up with 6 different bags to carry by hand...and the plastic cutting into my fingers....

If I use my own cloth bags, I don't have to worry about them breaking/tearing unlike the plastic if one gets a hole pokes in it by something inside... And I can carry my entire purchase in just one or two of my own bags.

We do the same. We were actually the first customers to get the 20 points for using our own bags at the Tesco near us here in Pattaya. The manager had to come over to figure out how to do it and told us we were the first!

But every time we go in, our own cloth bags in hand, we almost have to fight with them to get them to use the cloth bags. I put them right there and they still put stuff in plastic bags...which I remove and put into our bags. A few clerks have figured this out, but most haven't.

Several countries have banned plastic bags, like Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, etc. I was actually told upon entry to Rwanda I would be fined if I brought in a plastic bag!

Can't wait for Thailand to catch up.

[Rider808]

Just imagine if every motorcycle had a resusaeable bag under the seat.

Think I'll do that for now on.

[KarenBravo]

I re-use all the plastic bags from supermarket shopping trips as house-hold bin liners.

Anything wrong with that?

[LivinginKata]

I re-use all the plastic bags from supermarket shopping trips as house-hold bin liners.

Anything wrong with that?

Exactly what we do. Never have to throw an unused bag out. Although often times when making small purchases I always insist on not having my goods bagged.

[Hyponeros]

Is that a joke???

I stoped taking any plastic bag for one year now. Every time I reach the exit door, I am stopped by the security guy who is checking if I didn't steal anything!

[KKK]

I've been trying to use re-useable bags at some of my local supermarkets but so far have been met with the problem that the security guards always ask me to deposit the bag before I go in to shop. So when I get to checkout I don't have the bag. I end up with plastic until I can retrieve my own cotton bag.

I've tried moving my purchases from the plastic to the cotton and then been shouted at for making a mess leaving the plastic behind.

The Thais need some intense education in this matter. Environment issues like safety has never been one of their strong points.

[KKK]

I re-use all the plastic bags from supermarket shopping trips as house-hold bin liners.

Anything wrong with that?

I carry a couple in my pocket when I take the dog for a walk. Use them like a glove to pick up her poop.

[Shot]

I re-use all the plastic bags from supermarket shopping trips as house-hold bin liners.

Anything wrong with that?

Exactly what we do. Never have to throw an unused bag out. Although often times when making small purchases I always insist on not having my goods bagged.

We do the same.

A number of years ago a city near my home banned them completely. The first week was fine unless you didn't know about it, and then you just had to by a cloth bag. Second week, you couldn't find a trash bag anywhere, as every store was sold out. After about a month the cloth bags were growing some pretty interesting stuff in them , because no one was washing them. After about 6 months the ban was lifted.

[Lotusbluete]

"At the launch yesterday, 500 “green bags” were handed out."

Well, when I was in the small TESCO Lotus in Kathu yesterday they prized the green bag at THB 79/piece.

[KarenBravo]

I don't think the main problem is plastic bags per se.

It's the littering which makes plastic bags so visible.

Maybe an anti-littering campaign would be more beneficial to the environment?

[merlen10002]

Anyway, it wouldnt help TESCO to go down more and more and loose here in Phuket. Supercheap is not really SuperCheap but CHEAP is the most important word here. Thais are loving it, so do the Farangs and there are more and more convenience stores of this company. Fortunately SuperCheap has it all.....while since Bangkok Flood many of the LOTUS shops have nothing or not all like usual.

But OK, Tesco is making much money with the Russians at the moment....guess 18 out of 20 Farang customers are from Russia....they dont eat in Restaurants, they dont visit bars, they buy in Lotus and cook at home....

Anyway, nice effort but first Tesco should educate its staff not to hand out 2 bags for every item (((:

I frequently see Thai and Farang customers asking for more plastice bags even after the staff has given then more than they need, but staff should be educated.

[DeepInTheForest]

I don't think the main problem is plastic bags per se.

It's the littering which makes plastic bags so visible.

Maybe an anti-littering campaign would be more beneficial to the environment?

Not in my view. The number of plastic bags worldwide is staggering.

The BMA says that in Bangkok alone, there are more than 600,000 plastic bags dispensed every day. (I think this figure is wildly conservative, but what do I know.) Of the 10,000 tons of daily trash generated by Bangkok, 1,800 tons are plastic bags. Their annual dispoal cost is 600 million baht, or over 18 million dollars.

http://ipsnews.net/n...sp?idnews=51969

But there is no way they will all make it to a landfill. Many bags find their way into the oceans and streams, where they clog the guts of sea mammals and birds. When they decompose, they produce Bisphenol A, which interferes with reproduction, and styrene monomer, suspected of causing cancer. More in the link below, none of it good:

http://news.national...ceans-seas.html

Behind all this is the plastics industry, which in Thailand is immensely profitable. For example, domestic demand for PVC is about 450,000 tonnes per year. It is not biodegradable.

Read, inform yourselves, and get active.

[KKK]

I don't think the main problem is plastic bags per se.

It's the littering which makes plastic bags so visible.

Maybe an anti-littering campaign would be more beneficial to the environment?

Not in my view. The number of plastic bags worldwide is staggering.

The BMA says that in Bangkok alone, there are more than 600,000 plastic bags dispensed every day. (I think this figure is wildly conservative, but what do I know.) Of the 10,000 tons of daily trash generated by Bangkok, 1,800 tons are plastic bags. Their annual dispoal cost is 600 million baht, or over 18 million dollars.

http://ipsnews.net/n...sp?idnews=51969

But there is no way they will all make it to a landfill. Many bags find their way into the oceans and streams, where they clog the guts of sea mammals and birds. When they decompose, they produce Bisphenol A, which interferes with reproduction, and styrene monomer, suspected of causing cancer. More in the link below, none of it good:

http://news.national...ceans-seas.html

Behind all this is the plastics industry, which in Thailand is immensely profitable. For example, domestic demand for PVC is about 450,000 tonnes per year. It is not biodegradable.

Read, inform yourselves, and get active.

A Tesco-Lotus plastic bag has the universal recycling symbol on it. Next to it is some Thai script...perhaps some kind soul can translate it for us.

WikiPedia states the symbol is

used to designate recyclable materials

and

Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials

Where is plastic bag recycling done in Thailand? How are plastic bags collected for recycling in Thailand? Is the printing of this symbol on a plastic bag in Thailand a total JOKE !?!?

Edited December 17, 2011 by KKK

[KKK]

I don't think the main problem is plastic bags per se.

It's the littering which makes plastic bags so visible.

Maybe an anti-littering campaign would be more beneficial to the environment?

While I would like to see less usage of plastic bags I tend to agree with you that the littering of them is the main problem. But of course if you reduce the former you should automatically reduce the later. You can't litter what you don't have. Kids in my street toss their ice cream wrappers on the ground. The Walls and Nestles motor tricycles don't have bins and the driver/salesman does nothing along with the kids parents to educate the kids. It is left to the Farang to clean up the Thai mess. I try and tell the kids but then I'm shouted at by the parents for interfering in Thai business. Heh it's my planet too.

[spidermike007]

I've been trying to use re-useable bags at some of my local supermarkets but so far have been met with the problem that the security guards always ask me to deposit the bag before I go in to shop. So when I get to checkout I don't have the bag. I end up with plastic until I can retrieve my own cotton bag.

I've tried moving my purchases from the plastic to the cotton and then been shouted at for making a mess leaving the plastic behind.

The Thais need some intense education in this matter. Environment issues like safety has never been one of their strong points.

Sometimes, here in Thailand you simply have to say no. Say no to the security guard, and just keep walking. Or hide the plastic bags, But, by all means, do not tolerate the nonsense. Say no to the nonsense!

[spidermike007]

I don't think the main problem is plastic bags per se.

It's the littering which makes plastic bags so visible.

Maybe an anti-littering campaign would be more beneficial to the environment?

Not in my view. The number of plastic bags worldwide is staggering.

The BMA says that in Bangkok alone, there are more than 600,000 plastic bags dispensed every day. (I think this figure is wildly conservative, but what do I know.) Of the 10,000 tons of daily trash generated by Bangkok, 1,800 tons are plastic bags. Their annual dispoal cost is 600 million baht, or over 18 million dollars.

http://ipsnews.net/n...sp?idnews=51969

But there is no way they will all make it to a landfill. Many bags find their way into the oceans and streams, where they clog the guts of sea mammals and birds. When they decompose, they produce Bisphenol A, which interferes with reproduction, and styrene monomer, suspected of causing cancer. More in the link below, none of it good:

http://news.national...ceans-seas.html

Behind all this is the plastics industry, which in Thailand is immensely profitable. For example, domestic demand for PVC is about 450,000 tonnes per year. It is not biodegradable.

Read, inform yourselves, and get active.

Great post. Thank you. More education is needed. But in order for more education to happen, there has to be an acknowledgment of the problem. Thailand is one generation removed from a tribal culture. They feel plastic bags are the best thing in the world. There is ZERO environmental awareness here. Give them another 20 years, and maybe it will start. Maybe. Yes, plastic bags are definitely part of the problem. Littering or not, the presence of so many bags is horrific. To say that the bags are not part of the problem, is to betray a tremendous degree of ignorance on where they come from (increased dependence on nations that fund radical extremists), and where they go (enormous patches of plastic in the seas, and on land).