What will you feel if shopping without a plastic bag?

@youless (112481)
Guangzhou, China
March 12, 2008 2:26am CST
Here there will be a new rule. That is from June 1st this year, the plastic bags are not allowed to use. That means to say after shopping in the supermarket, you have to use your own bag and the supermarket won't provide you plastic bags. It seems it's very inconvenient for the customers, but I think it's still a good rule. And at least it's good for the environment. I don't ming bring my own bag to go shopping is very troublesome.
5 people like this
35 responses
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
12 Mar 08
i think that was very trouble some i still prepare to have a plastic bag but if its has a good benefit or you dont mined bringing your own shopping bag then thats ok.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Mar 08
But I heard that Korea also has such a similar rule. Is it true?
• South Korea
12 Mar 08
so far were still using shopping bags,
1 person likes this
12 Mar 08
it is said in China the plastic bags will be paied for, in order to reduce used bags, and the country product other recycle bags insteaded.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
12 Mar 08
hubby and i have been buying up those bags that are for sale at stores so people wont use plastic bags...right now they are generally about 99 cents per but i imagine the price will go up tons when the government outlaws plastic bags!
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Mar 08
Why not bring your own bag anyway?
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
12 Mar 08
I didnt know that. I too think it will be very inconvenient when I going shopping. They still might have the paper bags thou. But on the other hand it is really good for the environment.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Mar 08
But here the supermarket doesn't provide paper bags, too. You have to bring your own bag.
• United States
13 Mar 08
I think it will make some people to change to a store that gives them bags.I personally would bring in plastic bags from Target to use. I wouldn't bring in the cloth bags so I would still be using plastic bags.I am glad they are giving people enough time to look for another store to go to. When this came up a few months ago in Australia I thought of the perfect protest. Go to the store. pile up a shopping bag , and when yo get to the check out, get really upset about no bags and refuse to buy the goods in the shopping cart.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Mar 08
Wait a minute. You mean you can't even bring your own plastic bags?Let me know how this works. Not everyone has non plastic bags for these groceries.This could work if the market gives you the boxes that the goods come in.The store must have the empty crates. In fact there was a supermarket/warehouse that gave you the boxes to carry your goods home.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Mar 08
You can bring whatever you want to go shopping. But the supermarket won't provide you plastic bags.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
13 Mar 08
Here when it's banned to use the plastic bags, I think all the stores have to follow it.
1 person likes this
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
12 Mar 08
there is no such rule/law in my country just yet.. but most consumers are already aware of this practice.. and some are doing it already... i remember when i was a small girl - and we used much, much, much less plastic bags - my mom used to carry a basket to the wet market; the fishmongers, the vegetables sellers would wrap every purchase with used newspaper.. - everything would be put in my small basket and carried home.. looks like.. we would be travelling back in the 'old age'... for the good and benefit of our beloved Mother Earth.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Mar 08
That's very nice. Thanks for supporting to protect our planet:)
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
18 Mar 08
i think this rule is very nice and will help our environment greatly. when i was in hongkong 2 yrs ago they are practicing such rule and that really makes me happy coz i always think that we all do the same (every country) one thing that they are doing there is that you get extra points (if your a card member) or discounts if you have your own bag or if its just few and you'd rather carry it just like that. they still provide plastic but you have to buy it. i think ikea practice the same rule, not sure bout here but when we are living in china, you have to buy your plastic if you dont want it then you can re-use the boxes they have on the corner but you have to do it yourself, they provide a space so you can do that. yes, it is trouble some at times specially if you are in a market that is extremely busy and you have to push others so you can packed your own. anyway, BJ's and Sam's do the same here so i dont mind it at all, saves some garbage and other benefits in the end.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Mar 08
Thanks for your response.
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
20 Mar 08
you're very much welcome!
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
18 Jun 08
It is happening where I live to. And the worst thing about this is, it only happens on certain days. I remember there was this time where I forgot my bag, and I happily when shopping only to be told that I have no bags for my items at the point of payment. The cashier was really rude to us that day. I would have happily paid for the bags had she been nicer. I didn't care much then and rejected every item she scanned for my purchased. Walked out and went to another supermarket that was friendlier.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Jun 08
In my impression, your country pays attention to protect the environment and the chewing gums are not allowed.
@pkc3000 (1266)
• India
18 Jun 08
dear youless Though till date no such rules have been enforced or promulgated, but if such rules are enforced I will be happy as all big showrooms of garment are giving poly/plastic bags for each and every purchase. I think by enforcing law it should be minimised . Instead of using plastic bags showroom owner should use jute bags and paper carry bag and by doing so there will be dual effect one small scale industry those who are involved in making jute products will be benefited and second our river, ocean, ponds and nullah/drain will be free from plastic. I think consumer will have no problem . If necessary they can bring their own bags for carrying their new products from the market. For the earth who is our mother we can do little sacrifice. R U agree with me or not? pkc3000
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Jun 08
I bring my own bag when I go shopping. Actually this new rule doesn't bring me much more inconvenience.
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
13 Mar 08
Wow so they're switching to paper? As long as people actually recyle them that's a good idea. I wouldn't mind using some cloth bags, I just wish they were less expensive.....
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
13 Mar 08
I think cloth bags are not very expensive.
• United States
13 Mar 08
They're a buck a peice around here and not very big. When shopping for seven you use lots of bags! I shudder to think how many I'd have to buy.
1 person likes this
@laurika (4532)
• United States
20 Mar 08
I think is very good idea, how you said it is good for our enviroment. I used to do it at home and also when I was living in Germany to bring my own shopping bag. I don't think that it is truble to have few of them with you if you go for bigger shopping.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
20 Mar 08
I appreciate your support to our planet:)
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
12 Mar 08
IN singapore, ikea has already stop providing plastic bags to customers.. If we wanna purchase things, we have to bring our own bags.. AS for our local supermarkets, they also wun give plastic bags on the 1st wed of every month.. If we forgot, we have to buy the plastic bags from them instead..
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
13 Mar 08
Singapore has many strict rules, such as the chewing gum isn't allowed. But I think the advantages are more than disadvantages.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
13 Mar 08
Yup.. Even right now, in singapore, they are trying to ban smoking too!! haha
1 person likes this
@mnsrwt123 (2057)
• India
12 Mar 08
Well in Delhi, most of the places we have to carry our own bags too. And the shopkeepers do only have paper bags. Government take this action to avoid plastic use as much as possible. As plastic bags can't be recyclable, and paper bags too... And you are right its very good for the environment.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Mar 08
Perhaps it's better to carry your own bag, such as a cloth shopping bag. After all, paper bags are still a kind of waste because it needs so many trees.
1 person likes this
@mnsrwt123 (2057)
• India
12 Mar 08
yeah!!! thats makes the point...
1 person likes this
@MAMABLAZE (242)
• United States
19 Mar 08
It will be an inconvenience but you are right about the benefit it will be to the environment. Your post had me and my husband thinking about the amount of these bags that are used daily and then end up in a land fill. I do reuse the bags I get from the store but eventually a number of them end up in the trash that does not get recycled. We do not have rules or laws that pertain to this use of plastic bags. That's not to say that we don't have laws or rules about a million other things.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Mar 08
I hope we can try to bring our own shopping bags even if there is not rule to ban the plastic bags.
@fayfun (37)
• China
13 Mar 08
Here the supermarkets still provide comsumers plastic bags,but they are no longer free.And i think it will a useful rule to remind people to bring their own bag when going shopping.But I always forget it,it is really bad when I find I have to pay for the plastic bags.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
13 Mar 08
Then remember to bring your own bag to go shopping.
@fayfun (37)
• China
13 Mar 08
I'm so sorry because of the slow wire speed,I pasted my comment for twice.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
14 Mar 08
It's a very good idea, although it should have been brought in much sooner! Shops are now starting to charge for the use of bags, but I still don't think it will deter that many people from buying or using them, only time will tell. I always reuse the bags and you actually get a few points or pennies for doing that, which helps and it is also a good idea. An incentive too
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Mar 08
I think its advantages are still more than disadvantage.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
19 Mar 08
They are talking about doing that here in the UK but they've not done so yet. Anyway, last week I saw this neat folding shopping bag on sale in the supermarket. It folds up into a small square which will then just slip into a pocket. Anyway, I got one, and I've been very please with it so far - better than a flimsy plastic bag.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Mar 08
That's so nice to have such a shopping bag. I will buy one if it's available here.
• United States
14 Mar 08
I think it's a good thing. And consumers should be happy that in most cases you may be charged less because companies and stores are not worrying about having to purchase plastic bags for your purchases. I think spending money on a really great reusuable bag would be a good thing. After all, you'd save a lot of money and the environment.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Mar 08
Some people think it's inconvenient, but I think it is worth.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I think it would be good for the environment too but I quite like the plastic bags because i would use them as rubbish bags at home. I do have a few cloth bags that I haven't used yet as I keep forgetting to take them with me. But i'll get use to it soon :)
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
14 Mar 08
That's great:)
@Madona1 (2096)
• Gibraltar
16 Mar 08
I totally agree to any government to launch and put this new rule into their countries. Although it will be inconvenience for the shoppers, it is about time to protect and look after the environments, which will benefit for the people at the end. It is a cycle that people look after the earth; the earth will look after his people. So I have prepared to carry the paper-made shopping bag or recycle bag to do the shopping.
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Mar 08
I also think this is a good rule.
@mark17779 (667)
13 Mar 08
There was an artical in todays newspaper about the tax on plastic bags coming in to force unless the supermarkets took action..... Did you know that only 0.3% of waste at land fills in actually plastic bags and that it is the Austrailians fault that we in the uk may be taxed for using plastic bags ? This is because they did a report many years ago as many dolphins were being killed by disscarded fishing nets and plastic was mentioned. not plastic bags but plastic in general and then the new age hippies/green peace jumped on the band wagon untill we have today state of affairs. This article has since had to be changed. Also I think they mentioned that when plastic bags were banned in Australia that black bag/refuge sacks rose by 400%
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
13 Mar 08
This is a difficult problem to be solved...