Japan addresses plastic bags waste issue

The Daily Yomiuri today reported that Japan’s Environment Ministry has decided to forbid retailers to hand out free bags.

The ministry hopes to submit a bill to revise the law in the ordinary Diet session next year.

Wise. The Japanese throw away 30 billion plastic bags annually.

As one of the cleanest, most well-kept societies in the world, the Japanese have a deep stake in keeping their environment safe from the havoc that plastic bags wreak on the world.

The National Association of Super Markets expressed some sympathy for the idea saying in a statement, "We can reduce free handouts of plastic bags by charging the shoppers, which would cut the cost at supermarkets." However, it also expressed concern over receiving complaints from shoppers and expected a decline in sales.

The success of Australian communities in reducing plastic bags waste might assuage their worries. The Japanese are an aware society. Just a couple of activists can probably translate a rule into a personal mission for individuals.

Like Ben Kearney did in Coles Bay, Australia.

Coles Bay saved their town from more than 300000 plastic bags by introducing an attractive and practical alternative.

On the badlani.com website, they call it the # B06 (http://www.badlani.com/bags/b06.htm)

It’s made from nonwoven polypropylene. Not in itself an ecological material, but reusable, and well designed.

Norquest has now developed a version from laminated jute. Acting from the belief that most humans prefer the textures of nature.

"If folks are going to use a reusable shopping bag we might as well design one that looks and feels good to them", said CEO Rajiv Badlani, "the jute version is an absolute delight and we promise to have a picture up for you to see very soon".

Norquest has lots and lots of attractive and economical options on show at http://www.badlani.com/bags and it is hoped they will get more Japanese folks looking at them now.

Yea, Japan! Way to go!

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Norquest Brands is a small organisation based in Ahmedabad, India, that seeks to offer viable and attractive alternatives to plastic bags, which they consider a serious threat to our planet’s continued good health.