Shoppers at newly-opened KL Carrefour Market must bring own bags

Jayagandi Jayaraj, The Star 6 Nov 09;

GOING green all the way, Carrefour Market at the Sphere in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur has implemented its no-plastic-bag policy starting last week.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags, or buy recyclable bags sold at the market.

The attractive bags cost between RM4 and RM4.90.

Otherwise, they can make use of carton boxes provided at the check-out counters.

The initiative is Carrefour Group’s target to stop the free distribution of plastic bags to shoppers in all countries by 2012.

With 19 stores in Malaysia, the company has currently implemented the concept at Carrefour Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and Carrefour Penang.

Carrefour at Tropicana Mall in Petaling Jaya is also in the midst of a conversion. Next in line to adopt the “no plastic bag” policy is Carrefour Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur.

Carrefour Malaysia chief executive officer Guillaume de Colonges said although environment conservation was an uphill task, the company was not discouraged.

“To succeed, we are planning more effective programmes, taking with us the learnings from the best practices of other Carrefour stores around the world.

“In our business, we have the advantage of a large consumer base and because of this we know we can make an impact to promote public awareness on the need to protect and conserve our environmental heritage,” he said at the grand opening of Carrefour Market.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan officiated at the opening.

Also present to support the company’s efforts in going green were model Amber Chia, actress Vanidah Imran and husband Rashidi Ishak.

Chia, who often carried her own shopping bags instead of using plastic bags, said it was about time that Malaysians picked up and followed through on the habit of bringing their own shopping bags.

“Abroad, people do that all the time. It is a habit that reduces waste and helps protect the environment. I can see the trend of bringing recyclable bags is slowly picking up here but more people should be educated and be aware of it. So let’s start from somewhere.

“These days recyclable bags are also attractive, so it’s good,” she said.

At 2,000 square meter, Carrefour Market in Bangsar South is the first of its kind in Malaysia.

The mini hypermarket has 16,000 stock keeping units with a wide range of grocery items, including beauty and health products.