Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Each year an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide, most end up as rubbish, and countries worldwide are starting to ban them.
In India, for example, following disastrous floods of 2004 in the western state of Maharashtra it was found that discarded plastic shopping bags had ‘choked drainage outlets’ creating substantial damage and loss of lives.
As a result, according to the Press Trust of India, traders, retailers and hawkers now found using plastic bags risk hefty fines, with third-time offenders facing three-month imprisonment.
Flooding has also led to a complete ban on the sale and use of polyethylene bags in Bangladesh. The city of Dhaka reportedly disposes of millions every day that clog the city’s drainage system.
Across the world environmentalists are looking for alternatives to this major environmental menace.
In the Philippines, the traditional bayong, made from coconut leaves and other natural components, is making a comeback and places like India and Bangladesh are promoting the use of jute bags.
According to industry reports, Hong Kong consumes 33 million plastic bags – five per resident – every day. Australia, with 20 million people, uses a quarter of that number of bags a day and Ireland, which introduced a bag levy in 2002, uses a third.
Marine life also is endangered with animals mistaking plastic bags for food or becoming trapped in them.
The Bahrain Maritime and Mercantile International (BMMI) introduced reusable bags in the Alosra supermarket in Saar in July. Priced at BD1.5 to 2.5 they have been proving popular with shoppers.
“Customers have been responding positively. We will reward customers for choosing them by giving them incentives after shopping,” said Jaffar Alasfoor, marketing and deputy manager of Alosra.
Since the summer launch approximately 1,500 bags have been sold.
