To reduce energy consumption and polluting emissions, China is trying to reduce the use of plastic bags.
Hence, from Sunday onwards, all Chinese retailers, including supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores will no longer provide free plastic shopping bags.’It doesn’t matter how much the plastic shopping bag costs.What matters is our sense for environmental protection.’Mr.Wang said.
Customers are encouraged to carry their bags. Though the use of plastic bags has been in practice for more than a decade, they cause a heavy burden on the environment.
According to an estimate by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the top economic planner, at least 1,300 tons of oil would be consumed daily to produce the shopping bags for supermarkets alone.In addition, China has banned ultra-thin plastic bags or those thinner than 0.025mm
Plastic bags are difficult to be degraded and for shopping purpose minimum of 10 yuans are charged for the shopping bags from the shoppers.
Imposing restrictions on the use of plastic bags is a step in the right direction and will no doubt go a long way in the environmental protection of the largest populous country like China.