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  Today Online 27 May 05
Green Bags at NTUC FairPrice
by Lee U-Wen

CUSTOMERS at NTUC FairPrice supermarkets will soon be able to do their grocery shopping and help save the environment at the same time.

In support of World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, Singapore's leading supermarket retailer is launching a Green Bag, to encourage the use of fewer plastic bags. Environmentalists here estimate that a staggering one million plastic shopping bags are given out free here each day.

The tote bag, true to its name, is green in colour and both reusable and washable. It is made entirely of poly propylene, an environmentally-friendly material that is light and non-toxic.

FairPrice has already imported over 40,000 Green Bags from China. Priced at 99 cents each, they will be available from next Thursday at 76 outlets in Singapore.

Said Mr Gerry Lee, FairPrice's general manager (purchasing and marketing): "We hope to provide shoppers with an alternative to help reduce the use of plastic bags, and increase awareness to help protect the environment."

To mark the launch, the first 20,000 customers from next Thursday will receive a free Green Bag, when they spend at least $50. At this Sunday's National Family Week launch at the Singapore Expo, 15,000 Green Bags will also be given to visitors.

Posters and tent-cards with the message, "Let's save the environment, use less plastic bags", are already being displayed at FairPrice supermarkets.

Cashiers are also reminded during their regular training sessions to be prudent in giving plastic bags out to customers, said Mr Lee.

links
More about plastic bags and other marine debris that threatens our marine wildlife on Coastal Clean Up Singapore
Related articles on Singapore: plastic bags
More articles on Singapore: general environmental issues

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