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NTUC Fairprice phasing out 10-cent rebate for plastic bags, unveils new green goal

(AFP file photo)
(AFP file photo)

NTUC Fairprice is phasing out the 10-cent rebate scheme to customers who bring their own plastic bags to its supermarkets even as it aims to almost triple its savings of plastic bags to 30 million units per year by 2030.

The supermarket chain announced on Monday (23 July) that the FairPrice Plastic Bag Management Programme will replace the existing Green Rewards scheme, following a review conducted of the latter earlier this year.

The Green Rewards scheme, which offers customers a 10-cent rebate when they bring their own bags to shop at FairPrice stores, is set to end on 1 August.

As part of the new programme, FairPrice will donate $50,000 to the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and Zero Waste SG to fund their sustainability efforts.

Last year, FairPrice saved a total of 11.5 million plastic bags under the Green Rewards scheme.

“For more than a decade, FairPrice has championed the BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) movement in Singapore where we have invested over $4 million – through the FairPrice Green Rewards scheme – to urge the community to use less plastic bags,” said FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng.

“We will continue to drive this national initiative and…aim to address the wider impact of plastic bag use on the environment while taking into consideration customer needs and habits.”

“While there has been an increase in the number of plastic bags saved since the FairPrice Green Rewards Scheme was introduced in 2007, progress has plateaued out – averaging at about 10.8 million bags saved per year in the last three years,” said FairPrice.

The new programme aims to trim plastic packaging in operations, introduce sustainable bagging practices for cashiers and launch public-education programmes.

FairPrice is also working with Nanyang Polytechnic students to design a reusable bag for public distribution. It will work with suppliers and manufacturers to explore better packaging design and material.

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