• 6 million plastic bags saved in FY2010 through ongoing BYOB initiative
• FairPrice Foundation to donate up to $30,000 to charity based on sales of reusable bags and customer recycling efforts

NTUC FairPrice has saved 6 million plastic bags in the previous financial year through its ongoing Bring-Your-Own-Bag (BYOB) initiative, a 16 percent increase compared with the previous year of over 5.1 million plastic bags. As part of its efforts to promote environmental awareness to its customers, the FairPrice Cares! Campaign returns for a second year, in support of Earth Day 2011. The campaign encourages customers to use reusable bags for shopping and recycle drink cans and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

To encourage community participation for this campaign, FairPrice Foundation will donate up to $30,000 to the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and Singapore Disability Sports Council based on the number of cans or PET bottles recycled by customers and the number of FairPrice’s “Love Nature” recycled bags sold.

Commenting on the campaign, Ms Angela Soo, Chairperson for NTUC FairPrice Green Committee and Assistant General Manager for FairPrice Foundation said, “We are very encouraged by the increasing support from our customers in bringing their own bags when they shop at FairPrice and we thank our customers for sharing our love for nature. We hope that through this campaign, we can encourage even more customers to take action in loving nature and also caring for the less fortunate amongst us.”

Crush it, Not Chuck it

From 22 April 2011 to 8 May 2011, FairPrice Foundation will donate $1 for every can or bottle that customers bring in to recycle at the reverse vending machines at its Ang Mo Kio Hub Xtra hypermarket, City Square Mall supermarket and Marine Parade FairPrice Finest stores. To further encourage shoppers to recycle, FairPrice will be giving out FairPrice “Love Nature” reusable bags for every 10 cans or PET bottles brought in for recycling.

“Love Nature” bags with a heart

During the same period, FairPrice Foundation will donate a charity sum that matches the sales proceeds of FairPrice’s “Love Nature” reusable bags sold at all FairPrice stores. The programme reinforces FairPrice’s ongoing Green Rewards Scheme to minimize plastic bag wastage. FairPrice launched the Green Rewards Scheme in 2007 where customers enjoy a 10-cent rebate for bringing their own bag, with a minimum spending of $10. Last year alone, this programme saved 6 million plastic bags.

FairPrice’s Commitment to the Environment

FairPrice has a Green Committee to look into how FairPrice can improve environmental management as a whole. Last year, a Green Policy was initiated at its stores, corporate offices and warehousing facilities island-wide to reinforce everyday measures to reduce energy and water consumption and promote recycling. Some measures that have been implemented include encouraging staff to reduce paper usage by printing on both sides and to recycle. A pool of reusable grocery bags is also available for staff when they buy their groceries.

FairPrice also launched Singapore’s first eco-friendly supermarket at City Square Mall in December 2009. The store showcases the latest eco-friendly solutions in grocery retailing, which includes usage of recycled and biodegradable materials for store fixtures, energy-saving equipment and lighting, as well as “green technology” like the reverse vending machine. To offer more convenience to environmentally-conscious customers, the supermarket sports a “green aisle” dedicated to a range of environmentally friendly products that includes biodegradable versions of disposable crockery and cutlery, as well as household cleaners that are made from biodegradable resources and renewable raw materials.

Last year, FairPrice was awarded with the Green Retailer of the Year award by the Singapore Retailers’ Association for its eco-friendly initiatives.