Waitrose Encourages Shoppers to Bring Their Own Reusable Bags to Cut Down on Plastic Waste

Encouraging customers to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags, Waitrose has increased the price of plastic bags. From the start of the month a single-use plastic bag will cost 25 fils each. All proceeds from the sale of plastic bags will also be donated to non-profit organisation Emirates Nature-WWF. 

The move is to reduce plastic waste and to benefit the environment as part of the Partners Against Waste programme. Earlier this year Abu Dhabi and Ras L Khaimah announced plans to phase out disposable plastic bags entirely in retail outlets by 2021. According to the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, approximately 1 billion plastic bags are used in the country every year, that’s an average of 1,184 a person which is higher than the global rate of 307 a person. 

“This new charge is part of a gradual phase-out in line with the policies being introduced by the government across the UAE – and one that we are committed to following,” said Sunil Kumar, CEO of Fine Fare Foods which runs Waitrose & Partners UAE. “We are dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment, and while we know there is still a lot of work to be done, the removal of single-use carrier bags is a major step in the right direction. So far, we’ve received really positive feedback from our customers.”