The Mall Group become first Thai stores to charge for plastic bags

The Mall Group – that runs some of Bangkok’s leading stores as well as Bluport in Hua Hin – is going to charge customers for plastic bags starting tomorrow. 

They are the first retail group in Thailand to do so. 

Customers are being encouraged not to use bags at all under the company’s “Go Green” initiative. Cloth bags are available. 

If customers insist on a plastic bag they are available for sale at one baht each. Proceeds will go to the World Wildlife Foundation Thailand.

The ban applies at The Mall department stores in such places as Ngam Wong Wan and Bangkapi in the capital and high end stores like Emporium, Paragon and Emquartier. Bluport, Hua Hin is also part of the group.

Supermarkets and Gourmet Markets at the stores are also included in the scheme. 

Meanwhile the move by The Mall Group, that marks International Plastic Bag Free Day on Wednesday, has stolen some of the thunder from Tesco Lotus Express. 

In a story in Daily News they said they had been at the forefront of moves to limit plastic bags since 2010. 

On Wednesday they are stopping the use of plastic bags at three of their outlets on Koh Chang in Trat in eastern Thailand. This will make eight branches in total out of 2,000 outlets nationwide. 

They have a no bag policy on the fourth of every month at all their stores that the company has said has already reduced the consumption of millions of bags. 

They reckon that the ban on bags at just three stores in Koh Chang will save 500,000 bags being thrown into trash a year.

Tesco are now planning to introduce a no plastic bag policy to more stores near the sea and near schools.

The company rewards customers who refuse bags with 50 points on their club cards. 

Thai Visa / Daily News

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