UAE Hypermarkets Make Strong Green Statements

Taking the lead is Carrefour, which has halved the selling cost of environment-friendly reusable bags across all its stores in the region.

It aims to reduce the use of plastic bags by the end of 2008.

Also, all the chains of Carrefour will be running a special 10-day promotion that started on Sunday, when shoppers can 
purchase the reusable bags at Dh1, instead of Dh2.

The reusable bags, which Carrefour sees as an eco-friendly option to curb the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, can be bought at checkout 
counters.

If they get damaged, they can be replaced at any Carrefour outlet wothout any charge.

Henri Changeux, Senior vice-president, Carrefour, said, “Conserving the ecological balance by reducing the use of plastic bags is just one of the many steps that we have taken at Carrefour.”

Harish Herwani, the Retail Operation Manager of Al Maya Group, said they had plans to provide all their customers with free jute bags.

“We have received many quotations on the jute bags and probably by January 2009 we’ll launch it for our customers. We think by giving our customers jute bags we shall be making a very strong green statement,” Herwani said.

Retail outlets like Choithram are playing an important role in promoting the green cause.

Choithram is supporting the Dubai Municipality in the drive to cut down the use of plastic and will be selling jute bags in the supermarkets.

Spinneys chain of supermarkets too are quite keen to support the green cause. The supermarket chains use reusuable bags which are standard and are made up of insulated materials.

The supermarket also has recycling centres at three outlets, Spinneys Umm Suqeim, Spinneys Trade Centre and Spinneys Ramada, which allow customers to recycle paper, aluminium, plastic and glass.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com