Chinese plastic bag ban cuts use by 40bn
Josh Brooks, packagingnews.co.uk, 27 May 2009
China’s ban on plastic bags has cut the number of single-use carriers handed out by no less than 40 billion in the year since it was introduced.
The huge number - equivalent to two-thirds of bag usage levels in 2007 - was revealed by the China Chain Store & Franchise Association to mark the first anniversary of the ban, introduced on 1 June last year.
In a statement, CCFA claimed that the public had become "used to bringing along shopping bags and reusing plastic bags" and that the initiative had improved environmental awareness.
The figures were released as UK supermarkets aim to reduce the use of single-use bags, either by charging for them or forcing customers to ask for them.
