Making Every Good Count

NTUC FairPrice’s “No Plastic Bag” trial sees positive change in BYOB habits; initiative to be extended to 25 stores for a year

Published on
04 November 2019
  • FairPrice concluded its month-long “No Plastic Bag” trial at seven stores on 16 October 2019, which saw a positive change in consumers’ behaviour
  • Initiative will be extended to 25 stores for a year from 11 November 2019. Plastic bags will be available at S$0.20 and S$0.10 per transaction at selected supermarkets and convenience stores respectively and proceeds will go towards sponsorship of environmental and community causes

Singapore, 4 November 2019 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) today released results of its consumer sentiment survey conducted during the month-long “No Plastic Bag” trial (16 September to 16 October 2019). It also announced the extension of this initiative to 25 stores, including the original seven stores following positive consumer survey findings. The initiative will start from 11 November 2019, for a year.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group CEO, FairPrice Group, said, “The ‘No Plastic Bag’ trial was introduced to reduce excessive use of plastic bags and encourage a behavioural change in customers. We are heartened by the survey findings, which showed that majority of customers (71.1 per cent) are receptive towards a plastic bag charge. We also observed that more customers started to bring-your-own-bag (BYOB) and show greater awareness for the environment.”

Highlights of Consumer Sentiment Survey Results

Through the consumer sentiment study conducted during the trial, FairPrice surveyed 1,745 customers, who were interviewed about their BYOB behaviours as well as their receptivity towards plastic bag reduction efforts. In total, 73 per cent of surveyed customers expressed positive sentiments towards the trial, and noted that it was a good initiative by FairPrice.

When surveyed about BYOB sentiments, 34.4 per cent of customers shared that they do not bring their own bags, and only 14.6 per cent of the interviewees bring their own bags all the time. However, 71.1 per cent of them expressed support for plastic bag charges at supermarkets. Majority of those in support of this charge (61.3 per cent) want to do so to help save the environment. Other reasons cited include charges acting as a deterrent for using plastic bags (12.9 per cent), and also helping reduce waste (12.3 per cent).

Interviewees who did not express support for plastic bag charges shared that providing plastic bags were part of the expected store service (32.3 per cent). Other reasons cited were needing the plastic bag to line their trash bins (11.9 per cent) or simply not wanting to pay extra charges (11.7 per cent).

At the peak of the trial, FairPrice at Tai Seng saw a 2,760 per cent increase in BYOB transactions, while FairPrice Xtra at Hougang One and FairPrice Finest at Zhongshan Park saw a 2,524 per cent and 401 per cent increase respectively. However, BYOB transactions fell significantly during the final week of the trial as compared to the peak.

Extension of the “No Plastic Bag” Initiative

Following the successful trial and positive feedback from the public, FairPrice will be extending its “No Plastic Bag” initiative to 12 FairPrice and 13 Cheers/FairPrice Xpress stores. This initiative will run for a year from 11 November 2019. Customers who require bags can purchase them at S$0.20 per transaction (FairPrice, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra stores) or S$0.10 per transaction (Cheers, FairPrice Xpress stores). Proceeds from the charge will go towards the sponsorship of environmental and community causes. A full list of participating stores can be found in the Annex.

At the same time, FairPrice will continue efforts on public education to raise awareness on the importance of plastic waste reduction. This includes new initiatives to engage the public to donate their clean reusable bags in participating stores for redistribution to customers who may need it.

FairPrice’s Sustainability Efforts

During the “No Plastic Bag” trial, FairPrice collaborated with community partners and volunteers from Zero Waste SG and Young NTUC to explain the initiative as well as the importance of reducing excessive plastic use to customers.

FairPrice targets to save 30 million plastic bags per annum by 2030 through a holistic approach that involves enhancing internal practices to be more eco-friendly, public education, partnerships and sponsorships.

Mr Seah said, “We thank the public for their support and are pleased to conclude the trial with a donation of S$19,000, collected from the plastic bag charge. The proceeds will go to the Singapore Children’s Society and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.”

He added, “FairPrice Group will continue to work with like-minded partners to educate and encourage the public to adopt sustainable habits and practices. We invite other supermarket retailers to join us as we work towards minimising excessive use of plastic bags as a nation. We are also liaising with government agencies to align efforts for more efficient public outreach and community engagement.”

Annex:

S/NStore FormatAddress
1FairPrice Xtra @ Hougang OneNo. 1 Hougang St 91 #02-01 Hougang 1 Singapore 538692
2FairPrice Xtra @ Kallang Wave Mall1 Stadium Place Level 1, #01-29 Singapore 397628
3FairPrice Finest @ 100AM100 Tras Street #B1-01, 100AM, Singapore 079027
4FairPrice Finest @ Zhong Shan Park20 Ah Hood Road #02-01 Zhong Shan Park Singapore 329984
5FairPrice Finest @ Paya Lebar Quarter10 Paya Lebar Road #B2-09 Paya Lebar Quarter, Singapore 409057
6FairPrice Finest @ Terminal 365 Airport Boulevard,Basement 2 North, #B2-10 Singapore 819663
7FairPrice Finest @ Funan107 North Bridge Road, #B1-10, Funan Mall, Singapore 179105
8FairPrice Finest @ Bukit Timah Plaza#B1-01 & #B2-01 Bukit Timah Plaza, No.1 Jln Anak Bukit, Singapore 588996
9FairPrice Finest @ Valley Point491 River Valley Road, #01-14 Valley Point Singapore 248371
10FairPrice @ Coronation Plaza587 Bukit Timah Road #01-01, Coronation Plaza Singapore 269707
11FairPrice @ Orchid Country Club1 Orchid Club Road #01-34 Level 1, Orchid Country Club Singapore 769162
12FairPrice @ Tai Seng18 Tai Seng St, #B1-13, Maple Tree 18, Singapore 539775
13Cheers1 Create Way #01-01 Singapore 138602
14Cheers1 Anchorvale St, Sengkang Community Hospital Singapore 544835
15Cheers920 New Upper Changi Road, #01-01, Tanah Merah MRT Station, Singapore 467356
16Cheers1 Joo Koon Circle #02-25, FairPrice Hub, Singapore 629117
17CheersNo 2 Keppel Bay Drive #B1-133 Caribbean at Keppel Bay Singapore 098635
18Cheers611 Aljunied Rd Singapore 389830
19Cheers174 Holland Road Singapore 278582
20Cheers30 Dunearn Road, Singapore 309425
21Cheers141 Bukit Timah Road Singapore 229841
22Cheers751 Bukit Timah Road Singapore 269757
23Cheers650 Dunearn Road, Singapore 289630
24Cheers870 Dunearn Road, Singapore 589471
25FairPrice Xpress384 Lorong Chuan Singapore 556810

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