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  Today Online 3 May 07
Two more hands, please
Lee U-Wen

Channel NewsAsia 2 May 07
Few new converts in Bring Your Own Bag Campaign

SINGAPORE: Not many people are being converted by the National Environment Agency's (NEA) campaign to get Singaporeans to bring their own bags when shopping.

Despite a recent publicity blitz, Wednesday's Bring Your Own Bag Day received a lukewarm response from shoppers.

This is the second time the event is being held, after its launch in April.

The Bring Your Own Bag Day campaign is to encourage the conservation and the preservation of resources.

However, it has not yet been able to convert some to a "greener" way of living, especially those among the older population. This is according to Republic Polytechnic students who are monitoring the campaign's success.

"Those of an older age group prefer not to bring the bags. Because for them the bags are heavy," says Eddy Ahmad, Vice-President, Conservation Interest Group, Republic Polytechnic.

"The other demographics prefer it because it is a conservation programme, so it's their part to save the environment," he continues.

A Channel NewsAsia straw poll similarly found there have not been many new converts to the programme.

"I'm sorry? Bag day? What do you mean?" says one local. "It's a gimmick, that's all…well, i can see everybody being given a plastic bag after you make a payment right?" says another.

And most who brought their own bags did not credit the campaign with changing their style of shopping.

"I've two freezer bags and four organic recycled bags. I've been doing it because they used to do it in Hong Kong and we used to live there," says one shopper. "I keep one with me in my handbag, a collapsible bag. So I've got one ready whenever I need it."

Though the message did get through to some: "It's Wednesday so we are supposed to bring our own bags so that we can save the environment by not creating so much rubbish."

The next Bring Your Own Bag Day will be held on 6 June. - CNA/yy

Today Online 3 May 07
Two more hands, please
Lee U-Wen u-wen@mediacorp.com.sg

THE numbers are in, and by all accounts, Singaporeans can give themselves a pat on the back for boldly saying "no" to cashiers when offered a plastic bag.

After the first Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) day on April 18, the National Environment Agency (NEA) polled some 8,500 shoppers in 120 stores islandwide, and here is what they found: 77 per cent of them supported the initiative, with 20,000 reusable bags sold on that day alone.

What caught my eye, however, was that 34 per cent either bought or took along their own reusable bag, a far cry from a survey done earlier in the year when a paltry 2 per cent of supermarket shoppers were seen using one.

The fact that Singaporeans were both thinking and acting green had much to do with a sharp dip in plastic bags used that day.

The pioneer batch of seven participating retailers said they used up to 80 per cent fewer plastic bags, while 33 per cent of their customers were willing to donate 10 cents for each bag they took.

The campaign has also seemingly taken on a life of its own since then. Take a trip down to most supermarkets and do not be surprised to see more shoppers, both young and old, carrying colourful reusable bags and using them to hold their goods.

The NEA has said it has no plan to increase the frequency of BYOB day for now. But perhaps it is time to take the plunge, shed our conservative approach, and be that bit more aggressive on the ground.

After all, the plastic bag problem in Singapore is not a new one. Every year, 2.5 billion bags are used here, which works out to 1.7 bags per person each day.

Since climate change is the buzzword — not just in Singapore, but around the world — it would be a waste to let this increased awareness of plastic bags gradually taper off.

We should not rush things, but there is plenty of room for the NEA and other environmental champions to ride on the current wave and quicken the campaign's pace a notch.

One battle that has seemingly been won is to rope in major retailers to support the plastic bag movement. Yesterday, on the second BYOB day, local healthcare products supplier Rehab Mart — which has four outlets here — became the eighth and newest retailer to join the list.

The NEA has said it is confident that another four or five retailers will come on board by the time the next BYOB day is held on June 6.

But Singapore cannot expect to drastically reduce its plastic bag usage unless more retailers come forward and pledge to do their part, even in a small way.

It is unrealistic to expect the NEA to woo every single store islandwide. The onus is on those that can make a significant difference, such as department stores, petrol kiosks and 24-hour convenience outlets, all of which presumably go through millions of plastic bags a year.

With more retailers on board, the multiplier effect that could take place would mean wonders for BYOB day.

For one, the extended reach would mean thousands more Singaporeans becoming aware of the issues, because for any campaign to last, public education has to be an ongoing effort.

There are, inevitably, still shoppers who are reluctant to embrace the initiative. Some of the retailers reported a slight drop in sales, while some customers openly said they would think twice about shopping on future BYOB days to avoid making a donation.

According to the NEA's survey, 33 per cent did not take along reusable bags when they headed for the supermarkets, nor were they willing to part with their 10 cents, wanting instead to take the bags for free.

That finding is, however, no surprise. In fact, we might have expected worse.

Neither should it pose a psychological barrier to the organisers or retailers hesitant to jump on board anymore. What they should take notice of is that other surprise — the pleasant one — that the first big wave converted some one-third of shoppers.

Singaporeans in general have shown they are not as resistant to change as before, and are willing to be supportive so long as the reasons are justified and they can see why their actions count towards doing their bit for the environment.

It would be foolish of us to miss the boat and let this momentum come to nought. There has never been a better time for customers, retailers and the authorities to rally and battle the plastic bag menace together.
links

Bring Your Own Bag Day on the NEA website

Are biodegradable bags that much better than normal plastic bags? Letter from Chia Hern Keng Straits Times Forum 2 May 07

Letters to the press about Bring Your Own Bag Day

Related articles on Singapore: plastic bags
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