● FairPrice’s year-long “No Plastic Bag” initiative at 25 FairPrice and Cheers stores concludes with a total of 15.6 million plastic bags saved with about 7.8 million BYOB transactions

● Initiative will be extended for another year from 12 November 2020 at the same stores. Plastic bags will be available at S$0.20 and S$0.10 per transaction at selected supermarkets and convenience stores respectively. Proceeds will go towards supporting environmental and community causes

Singapore, 11 November 2020 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) today announced the results of its year-long “No Plastic Bag” initiative at 25 selected supermarket and convenience stores. The initiative, which will conclude today, saw a total of 15.6 million plastic bags saved with about 7.8 million bring-your-own-bag (BYOB) transactions. It also announced a one-year extension of the initiative at the same stores[1] following positive customer response, starting 12 November 2020.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group CEO, FairPrice Group, said, “The “No Plastic Bag” initiative is part of the FairPrice Plastic Bag Management Programme which aims to reduce excessive use of plastic bags and at the same time encourage a behavioural change in customers. We are encouraged by the positive customer response garnered; the significant number of plastic bags saved in this short span of one year is a testimony of the greater public awareness for the environment.”

Highlights of Year-Long Pilot Initiative

Over the past year, about seven in 10 customers who shopped at participating supermarkets chose to BYOB or refused plastic bags, while close to nine in 10 customers BYOB or refused a bag at participating convenience stores.

While the majority of the customers supported this initiative by bringing their own bags, there were also challenges faced on the ground such as having to manage customers who demanded for excessive plastic bags after paying for them.

Mr Seah added, “We are thankful to customers for their support and understanding towards this sustainability effort. Regardless of the challenges that we face, we remain committed to the cause and we encourage more retailers to join us in making a collective effort towards reducing plastic bag use.”

FairPrice currently remains the only supermarket chain to continue charging for plastic bags at participating outlets in Singapore.

Extension of the “No Plastic Bag” Initiative

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 raised from the initiative will go towards supporting environmental and community causes. Over the past year, about S$600,000 was raised from the plastic bag charges.

FairPrice will also continue public education efforts to raise awareness on the importance of plastic waste reduction. FairPrice continues to work closely with the government and organisations to advocate for the reduction of single-use plastics, such as supporting the Say Yes to Waste Less campaign by the National Environment Agency and organising webinar in partnership with Eco-Business.

The full list of participating stores can be found in Annex A.

FairPrice’s Sustainability Efforts

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.

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^[1] With the exception of FairPrice at Orchid Country Club, which has been converted to a dedicated online fulfilment centre.

ANNEX A

Participating stores