Everyday is no plastic day so BYOB

Your recycled bag-don't leave home without it.

On 3 March 2009- the "Every day is no plastic bag day" campaign launched in HK- under the auspices of the Hong Kong Retail Management Association. The intention is to encourage about 2,000 stores of 18 major retailers in Hong Kong to stop handing out plastic bags to customers starting that day. The association said that the aim is to encourage further reduction of plastic bag usage across the city. The participating stores include major super markets like International,Gourmet, Wellcome,City Super, Great, 360,Market Place and chemists likeMannings and Watsons.
Xin hua news reported that " The association expected that this program would help reach the industry’s voluntary target of reducing plastic bag distribution by more than 400 million at the participating retailers.This will represent a 50 percent decrease from the 820 million plastic bags distributed in 2005, the baseline on which the voluntary target was set."

I suppose this good effort and no doubt a good start. However, some stores are better at executing and informing customers about this campaign. Others seem to take part by just putting a sign board of the poster at the front of the store! But this campaign is like a lion without teeth- it does not bite. Even if you don't bring your own bag- you will get a plastic in any case- at no further cost. Perhaps you think that charging for the use of plastic bag seems unreasonable and consumers should be given their choice. I disagree. In the UK, Marks and Spencers charges 10p for a plastic bag- and I hope HK will follow suit. After all, you don't feel the pinch unless it really hurts. And really it is the choice between protecting and destryoing our land. Not a difficult to figure out really.

There is also a much needed call for higher level of exposure and education to the general consumers in Hong Kong and Asia. We are need to educated to know what cumulative detriments are being done to our mother earth each time we use and thus creating a demand for plastic bags. The effects of global warming are already showing and the are moving in a frightening pace. Each of us (corporate and individuals alike) is responsible to do our part- its not just a matter for the environmental activists or the regulators, it's a matter we should take very closely in our hearts. Remember, we did not inherit this land, we are just borrowing it from our children.