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| Paper bags are made of used wall calendars. |
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As seen in the supermarket on March 27, many consumers were enthusiastic about involving in the program of using paper bags and green ones in shopping.
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*Enterprises take action
Preparations for the program to welcome Earth Hour were prepared fairly carefully in an earlier week. Besides turning off unnecessary electric devices, from 22nd to 27th March, their trade union members and employees had made paper bags out of “second-hand” big-size magazines, wall calendars and call on customers to take part in making paper bags to develop awareness about saving nylon bags among them. They also prepared a number of paper bags to use in the “No nylon bags on March 27” day. In a week, trade union members of Co.op Mart Bien Hoa completed 4,000 paper bags to present their customers.
On March 27, the supermarket do not supply free nylon bags as usual. Instead, they encourage customers to use green bags to contribute to environmental protection. Nguyen Nhu Duong, a cashier of Co.op Mart said: “All personnel will persuade customers to buy green bags to carry their goods, instead of using nylon bags as usual. Customers respond enthusiastically, many of whom also call on others to follow them”.
The message “Let’s protect our green environment with Co.op Mart” were also broadcasted repeatedly in the supermarket to call on people not to use nylon bags. Addition to 50% discount, when using big green bags and having a receipt of at least VND200,000, customers will be presented a free parking ticket, a VND5,000 coupon for green foods and a Vfresh Smoothie milk box worth VND6,700. With a receipt of at least VND500,000, customers will be given a bag baring “For a green environment”.
Trang Phuc, Head of Marketing Department of Co.op Mart said: “On March 27, we sold over 1000 green bags and used about 6,000 paper bags. Many people returning to the supermarket on the following day asked us why we had stopped using paper bags, which showed that the program were supported enthusiastically by consumers. This is an encouraging result, going beyond our expectation”.
*Respond of consumers
This is not the first time to introduce green bags; however, running such a big program with a lot of meaningful and practicable activities like the program “Say no to nylon bags” in here has contributed to changes in consumers’ awareness.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao and Le Thi Thanh Thuong, students of LacHongUniversity’s Department of Environment said: “We totally support this program because it is perfectly practicable and this is an action to call on people to protect our environment altogether. Besides involving actively in the program, we participated in collecting garbage, clearing and cleaning streets, turning off unnecessary electric devices at peak time.”
Cam Nhung, a customer appearing interested in colorful hand-made paper bags said: “These bags are very nice and I keep one as a memory as this is an effort of the supermarket. I think I should join and call on more people to involve in.”
Vu Thi Lan, another customer said: “I do not feel inconvenient at all when I use these green bags. Besides used for carrying what I bought, the bags also have other uses.”
However, many people still feel these bags priced at VND6,000 at the present a little bit expensive, making them unwilling to use the bags, instead of nylon ones for people are familiar with being given free nylon bags and using them one time and then taking them away. Moreover, bringing bags with them is not convenient and for limited income people, extra expense of VND6,400 also is a question.
Customer Le Ngoc Canh said: “Size of the bags is not varied; their price is not affordable for most of customers. At present, the bags are suitable for customers buying a large number of items in the supermarket. Enterprises should make various bags for consumers to choose.”
Changing habit of consumers only by one program is impossible; however, outcome of the program “Say No To Nylon Bags” is not inconsiderable. Via the program, people have increased awareness of using environmentally friendly products to protect our environment.
Thanh Minh