Sign a petition to urge convenience stores and supermarkets to charge for plastic bags

One of the biggest complaints many of us have are with convenience stores like 7-Eleven that give you plastic bags, straws and spoons for literally everything. Even if you don’t want it. No, I don’t need a plastic straw for my bottle of beer. I am not a kid. No, I don’t need a plastic bag for my bottle of water. I am going to drink it straight away. No, I don’t need a separate plastic bag for everything. You can just put it in one plastic bag, which incidentally I will re-use in my home later. Actually, to be fair to the clerks at my local convenience store, they are getting the message as they no longer automatically put my goods in a plastic bag. But, now it is time for us to put pressure on the owners of these convenience stores, supermarkets and department stores to cut down on the amount of plastic that they use every day. And we can all play a part in this by signing a petition right now over on change.org.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION >>>

Times are certainly changing in Thailand when it comes to awareness of plastic pollution. Earlier this month, a dead whale washed up in southern Thailand. An autopsy revealed eight kilos of plastic bags in its stomach. Then came the news that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will reduce the amount of single-use plastic by the tourism sector. Shortly after that, the national parks department announced a complete ban on plastic and foam. Then today there was a news story that the Tourism Authority of Thailand will join with tourism businesses to reduce single-use plastic materials by 50% in the three years. So, there is definitely a momentum going on here. Now, comes the next step of using all of this public awareness to urge the owners of convenience stores and supermarkets to start charging their customers for plastic bags.

A petition has been set up on change.org for people to sign. This is what they say about it: We will call on major retailers, such as 7-11, Tesco Lotus, Big C, Central Group and The Mall Group, to initiate their policy change, even better to join hands and do it together. “Simply stop giving away free plastic bags mindlessly. If we want a bag, we will ask and pay for it!”. We, as their customers, can express our concern and let them know that many of us want to see this change!

Will it work? Yes, it certainly can as studies have already shown in other countries around the world that now charge for plastic bags. In the UK, plastic bag use has been reduced by 83% in one year after the change, even though the bags were priced at only 5p (about 2 baht). Some major universities in Thailand already charge for plastic bags at their convenience stores. At the Salaya campus at Mahidol university, they saw a 95% decrease in the use of plastic bags after they started charging 2 Baht per bag.

We can all be part of this change by signing the petition on change.org. Please do it now.

The following are some of my tweets this month about plastic pollution. Scroll down to leave your own comment.

17 thoughts on “Sign a petition to urge convenience stores and supermarkets to charge for plastic bags

  • June 16, 2018 at 8:14 am
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    ‘No, I don’t need a plastic bag for my bottle of water.’

    Very well, but I think you mean:
    “No, I don’t need a plastic bag for my PLASTIC bottle of water.”

    I will sign your petition 🙂 Keep on the good work

    Reply
  • June 15, 2018 at 8:37 pm
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    Thanks Richard for this petition, I was in Amazon coffee shop the other day and they give out those plastic holders for take away drinks. Should petition against the use of it! Total useless invention !

    Reply
  • June 15, 2018 at 4:10 pm
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    Thanks Richard for posting this!

    Reply
  • June 15, 2018 at 11:55 am
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    Actually, I think change is going to happen real fast. All my (Thai) friends are already refusing bags and straws and being much more concerned about the environment.

    Reply
    • June 15, 2018 at 6:43 pm
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      You’re dreaming – it’ll never happen. Well, not in my life time anyway.
      Try EDUCATING Thais to not LITTER.

      That’s what worked in the UK.
      I see there are now adverts on Thai TV regarding adverts – good!

      Reply
      • June 24, 2018 at 5:28 pm
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        Someone said I was ‘dreaming’ when I said that change was already happening fast.

        However proof of this fast pace of change is that a Thai friend messaged me about a ‘refill station’ at Onnut – an eco store where customers can refill just about anything.

        I just googled it and here’s a link to a BK magazine write-up
        https://bk.asia-city.com/bangkok-places/shop/beauty/refill-station

        I travel extensively for work and have never come across such a store or concept before.

        Thailand often leads with new ideas and imaginative solutions!

        Reply
  • June 15, 2018 at 11:28 am
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    While I agree that use of plastic bags should be cut down, I don’t agree with the excuse you put until an alternative is available. I don’t think it is right to blame these convenient stores owners.
    If anyone don’t want plastic bags, they can refuse them, why blame it on the store owners who offered them for free ?
    It doesn’t make sense to sign such a petition.

    Reply
    • June 15, 2018 at 11:54 am
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      If you check my tweets at the bottom of this post you will see a tweet from two weeks ago when I said:

      “It’s easy to blame stores like 7-11 for their love of single use plastics such as straws, spoons and bags. But really, it should start with us. If we all said “no” tomorrow, then they will quickly get the message. If you cannot re-use it, refuse it”

      But to make a change nationally, we have to petition the owners of these convenience stores. It has to start somewhere.

      Reply
      • June 15, 2018 at 2:37 pm
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        It is super easy to bring your own bag. And it is super easy to tell them I do not need a bag since you can wave yours. Works everywhere on the planet – no words needed.
        Thank you for taking the initiative!

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      • June 15, 2018 at 6:40 pm
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        People would stop using the stores that don’t supply bags. I would, for sure.

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      • June 16, 2018 at 8:16 am
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        Great statement:
        ‘If you cannot re-use it, refuse it’

        Reply
    • June 18, 2018 at 9:08 am
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      Clearly there are not eough people who have got the message that the use of plastic is a real problem and is causing human health issues across the world. Even eating fish can cause you to ingest microplastic these days If we ask the stores to stop providing them then the message is clear and people will know to bring a reusable alternative.

      Reply
  • June 15, 2018 at 10:19 am
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    Actually, I find Singapore even worse. I bought 6 Danishes from Bread Talk and before I had time to say they could all go in one bag, the assistant had bagged each one separately then bagged them again so that the three Danishes of one kind were all in on other bag, the two Danishes of another kind were also bagged in another bag and then all of them were placed into one bigger bag!
    Total number of plastic bags used was 6!!!

    Reply
    • June 15, 2018 at 11:24 am
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      I can’t believe this. Why don’t you tell the staff before you hand over the food ? Why blame them ?

      Reply
      • June 15, 2018 at 11:53 am
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        Stanley – the shop assistants in these stores are often like robots. I didn’t know she was going to do this and she did it so fast and so automatically that didn’t realize until it was too late…

        Reply
    • June 15, 2018 at 6:38 pm
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      Maybe the Singaporeans don’t throw their bags away in the street.
      Maybe they use them when they go shopping in places that DON’T provide plastics bags.
      Maybe they use them for rubbish and put them in their bins when full.

      No, let’s ban plastic bags because it makes us feel like we’re saving the planet.

      Jesus Wept.

      Reply

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