PETALING JAYA: The nation’s fight to eliminate single-use plastics by 2030 just got more intense. A total of 16 retail chains have decided to back the initiative by doing away with plastic bags.
The chains, which have 7,601 premises nationwide, pledged to do so through the “Say No to Single-Use Plastic Bags” campaign, according to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming (pic).
The outlets will not provide customers with single-use plastic bags from Oct 1. The move is expected to lead to an annual reduction of 200 million single-use plastic bags in Malaysia.
The retail chains are 7-Eleven; 99 Speedmart; AEON Big; AEON; Econsave; Giant, Cold Storage and Mercato; Guardian; KK Mart; Lotus; Lulu; Mydin; TF-Value Mart; The Store; emart24; Watsons; and NSK Trade City.
The Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Malaysia Complex Management Association and 1 Utama Shopping Centre are also part of the pledge.
“All Malaysians are encouraged to adopt this effort. Bring your own bag. If you really don’t have a reusable bag, you can buy one from the retailer,” he said at the launch of the campaign at 1 Utama Shopping Centre here yesterday.
Nga said the campaign was also to support the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030 developed by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure this campaign succeeds. It will also have a significant impact on the government’s plan to develop the circular economy,” he said.
He said some retailers had already begun the campaign earlier, adding that he hopes more businesses would join this initiative.Earlier in his speech, Nga stressed that the move does not intend to go against the plastics industry.
“We are only stopping single-use plastics, with the exception of wet markets. Sustainable development goals must not just be a slogan but a reality,” he said.
Nga also pointed out the Malaysian plastics industry’s contribution to the national gross domestic product, saying it generated RM9.97bil in 2018 and RM11.77bil in 2023.
“The industry has immense potential to be further explored through the circular economy.”
Separately, Nga said the ministry is drafting a law where those repeatedly convicted of littering will have to do community service with cleaning work.
He said the new law, dubbed the Social Work Order, will see repeat offenders having to clean roads and drains as well.
“Cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility. We need to uphold civic awareness collectively. If we don’t like rubbish being put in our houses, let’s not do the same outside,” he said.
Nga said offenders will also be given a “special uniform” to be worn when carrying out cleaning works.
