Two of the largest supermarket chains in Iceland have announced they will stop offering their customers plastic shopping bags. The decisions follow a debate about ways in which Icelandic consumers and businesses can do more to combat climate change and reduce their carbon footprint.
Read more: Majority of Icelanders support a total ban on plastic shopping bags
On Saturday the low-price supermarket chain Bónus announced it would no longer be offering plastic bags at its stores. The stores would instead offer bags made from biodegradable bioplastic. Since these new environmentally friendly shopping bags are not as strong as those currently offered by the stores, consumers are encouraged to use re-useable bags.
Yesterday, a second major supermarket chain, Hagkaup, announced it would also stop offering plastic bags at its checkout counters. The National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the supermarket has not yet given a date for the change in policy, or whether it will offer biodegradable bioplastic bags like Bónus.
Read more: Ask the Expert: What is the cheapest grocery store in Iceland?
Consumers use fewer plastic shopping bags
Plastic shopping bags are sold at checkout counters in Icelandic stores. The sale price goes to a non-profit called Pokasjóður which has used the money to fund environmental projects like reforestation and topsoil reclamation in Iceland. The chairman of Pokasjóður told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that the fund has seen a steady drop in plastic bag sales in recent years.
The State Monopoly Liquor Stores Vínbúðin have also seen a significant drop in the sale of plastic bags. Sale of plastic bags dropped 6.3% during the first 8 months of this year, at the same time as the number of customers has increased by 2.4%.
Two of the largest supermarket chains in Iceland have announced they will stop offering their customers plastic shopping bags. The decisions follow a debate about ways in which Icelandic consumers and businesses can do more to combat climate change and reduce their carbon footprint.
Read more: Majority of Icelanders support a total ban on plastic shopping bags
On Saturday the low-price supermarket chain Bónus announced it would no longer be offering plastic bags at its stores. The stores would instead offer bags made from biodegradable bioplastic. Since these new environmentally friendly shopping bags are not as strong as those currently offered by the stores, consumers are encouraged to use re-useable bags.
Yesterday, a second major supermarket chain, Hagkaup, announced it would also stop offering plastic bags at its checkout counters. The National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the supermarket has not yet given a date for the change in policy, or whether it will offer biodegradable bioplastic bags like Bónus.
Read more: Ask the Expert: What is the cheapest grocery store in Iceland?
Consumers use fewer plastic shopping bags
Plastic shopping bags are sold at checkout counters in Icelandic stores. The sale price goes to a non-profit called Pokasjóður which has used the money to fund environmental projects like reforestation and topsoil reclamation in Iceland. The chairman of Pokasjóður told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that the fund has seen a steady drop in plastic bag sales in recent years.
The State Monopoly Liquor Stores Vínbúðin have also seen a significant drop in the sale of plastic bags. Sale of plastic bags dropped 6.3% during the first 8 months of this year, at the same time as the number of customers has increased by 2.4%.
