Carrefour encourage to use reusable bags instead of plastic bags

As a part of its continued efforts to reduce the millions of plastic bags that pollute the Qatar's ecosystem every year, Carrefour, the region largest retailer will now encourage to replace plastic bags at its checkout counters with reusable bags.

Carrefour Qatar had already launched these bags in June 2007 as an alternative to plastic bags.
Carrefour, operated by Majid Al Futtaim Hypermarket, will make the "Eco bag" available in all its stores: a 31 litre reusable bag costing QR 0.50 and a 48 litre reusable bag worth QR 2.50. Both bags are recyclable and if damaged at any point, will be replaced at any Carrefour outlet free of charge for life. Carrefour will not make any profit from the sale of these bags.

The move is in line with Carrefour determination to eliminate the use of all plastic bags at its outlet. Carrefour's use of reusable bags aims to reduce the pollution caused by plastic bags to the ecosystem. Small changes like this can make a big difference to our environment. Carrefour is a responsible corporate citizen which takes its responsibility towards the environment very seriously. The reusable bag introduced by Carrefour in Qatar is a part of its bigger efforts to improve the natural habitat of the communities it operates in. Carrefour has in the past been involved in other campaigns such as beach clean up operations.

Carrefour was prompted to action by the increased damage being caused by plastic bags worldwide. Every year an estimated 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide which translates to use of 2m bags every minute. Plastic bags contain chemical additives like cadmium and mercury that lead to environmental pollution. Producing plastic bags require the use of petroleum and natural gas causing wastage of precious energy in the manufacturing process. Plastic bags are not biodegradable, and their improper disposal injures and kills many marine animals.

By using the reusable bag four times, the consumer will be reducing the usage of plastic bags by 18%. So when using a Carrefour reusable bag four times, the resulting decrease in plastic bag production leads to a reduction in the emission of greenhouse effect gases by 20%. By using the bag 20 times, the usage of plastic bags can be reduced by 82%.

This initiative strengthens Carrefour commitment as a socially and environmentally responsible company. As nations around the world are exploring ways and means of safeguarding the environment from pollutants like plastic, Carrefour hope this attempt will be welcomed by customers and make a difference to Qatar.