Convenience Stores Conduct Plastic Bag Reduction Campaign

The Japan Franchise Association campaigned to reduce plastic bag consumption at 42,000 stores belonging to 12 member convenience store (CVS) chains from July 7 to October 31, 2008. The campaign started in June 1, 2006 and this time it was driven by asking customers for cooperation in reducing the use of plastic bags, and putting point-of-sales display near the cash registers of all the stores.

Specific measures have been taken, such as asking customers buying fewer items, having stickers placed on these items instead of having them packed in plastic bags, asking customers for cooperation in reducing consumption of plastic bags at the cashier, and ensuring the use of appropriate bag sizes. In addition, the 12 CVS chains shared their best practices throughout the entire organization.

Each CVS company has been working on reducing plastic bag use in stages since fiscal 2000, when the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law was fully enacted. In fiscal 2008, they set out to cut down the gross weight of plastic bag use at each store by 28 percent from fiscal 2000. They aim to achieve a 32 percent reduction in fiscal 2009, and a 35 percent cut in fiscal 2010, as compared with 2000 levels.

- Japan Franchise Association
http://jfa.jfa-fc.or.jp/about_jfa_English.html
- Convenience Stores to Cut Plastic Bag Use by 35% by 2010 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026415.html

Posted: 2008/12/22 06:48:40 AM

TAG Material reduction , Non-manufacturing industry