Carrefour UAE to replace plastic bags at checkout counters with starch alternatives
Carrefour UAE, which is owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim, is to offer a sustainable alternative to plastic bags in response to new government policy banning the use of single-use plastic.
The retailer will provide plant-based bags made of starch at its checkout counters.
These will be available for 25 fils at Carrefour stores across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from 1st June and in Dubai as of 1st July. They take less than six months to fully decompose.
Bernardo Perloiro, Chief Operating Officer UAE at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, says: “Of all the plastic ever made, half has been produced in the last 15 years, which is why we were the first UAE retailer to introduce reusable bags back in 2007.”
“We have come a long way since then and, since 2019, we have sold four million reusable bags at Carrefour stores across the UAE.”
“With the implementation of the new policies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it is our duty to ensure customers have the most convenient, cost-efficient options.”
“The starch bag, which costs only 25 fils, is an industry first in this region and we are confident that it will be widely implemented by more retailers in the future. We fully embrace the new government direction, which bans single-use plastic bags in Abu Dhabi.”
“Through constant innovation and close collaboration with our government and partners, we can continue to deliver the best shopping experience for our customers.”
Customers can also find reusable bags made using paper, woven, juco, and canvas materials, which are equivalent to five regular bags and can carry many more items.
The retailer hopes to incentivise responsible shopping habits through its loyalty programme by offering bonus SHARE points for purchases of new reusable bags.
It has also partnered with the conservation organisation – Emirates Nature-WWF – to design three limited edition reusable bags priced at AED 11.50.
Each one features an illustration of a threatened marine species in the UAE, highlighting indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins, Arabian humpback whales and green turtles.
Scanning the attached QR code takes customers to an online resource that provides facts about each animal to increase awareness about the effects of single-use plastic on UAE wildlife.
