UAE's Top Retailer Decides to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Carrefour- the leading retail chain network in the UAE announced its decision to start phasing out single-use plastics by the end of this year, with the ultimate goal of eliminating its use 2025. In addition, it will launch various campaigns aimed at promoting the use of reusable and recyclable bags.

According to the company, customers will not be provided with single-use plastic items at its retail outlets except on-shelf products such as garbage bags, detergent bottles and cleaning products, which will be still available for purchase by customers. For these products, the company will expand the network kiosks to refill detergent liquid to more stores, in partnership with local service providers.

Carrefour will completely remove freely distributed plastic grocery bags from all its stores across the country by 2025. Also, other single-use plastic items such as straws, cutlery, containers and trays will also be removed.

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The plastic carry bags for fruits and vegetables will be replaced with reusable cloth bags, for which the shop will charge AED 2.50 per bag. The reusable bags will be provided at checkouts, the price of which will range from 50 fils to AED 10, depending on their size.

The company announced that it will roll out incentives for customers who switch over to alternative bags, instead of plastic. The Carrefour stores will replace reusable bags bought from its stores without charging any fee. Further, it will launch a massive educational campaign to educate shoppers on the bad impacts of plastic pollution.