|
Target bans plastic bags in Australia
|
View this Thread in Original format
| ziptnf |
Good for them. This is a good first step in helping eliminate worthless trash that gets caught in rivers and floats around on the highways. Unfortunately it's only in Australia. I wonder if it will spread to other countries and if other big retailers will follow suit? Sounds like a good idea to start changing the way consumers shop.
| quote: | THE retail giant Target has confirmed it will ban plastic bags in its 283 Australian stores next month. It will be the first large retailer to break ranks and ban bags on environmental grounds.
Instead of issuing plastic bags to shoppers at checkouts, from June 1 Target will require shoppers to either bring their own bags or buy reusable bags for $1 each or compostable corn starch bags for 10 cents each.
Other retailers are understood to be furious at the decision because it undermines what was a solid retail opposition to banning bags.
Target says the ban will stop 100 million plastic bags from going into landfill and polluting the environment each year - or just under 3 per cent of the 4 billion bags that pass through Australian checkouts each year.
From Monday, South Australia will enforce a ban on plastic bags from all shops, which is expected to save another 400 million bags.
The federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, promised to legislate for a national ban last year, but ended up leaving the decision to each state.
Most plastic bags used in Australia end up in landfill tips, though millions find their way into bushland and waterways.
Profits from Target's reusable bag sales will go to a children's charity, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation. |
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/t...90430-ap00.html |
|
|
| Renegade |
| I'm somehow skeptical that Target are making this move out of an altruistic concern for the environment, but you're right: good for them. I'm happy to pay extra for bags if I know that there's an environmental benefit for doing so. Hopefully more stores follow suit. |
|
|
| ziptnf |
| Well, I mean, they're donating the profits of the personal bags to some charity, it's not like they're keeping all that money. So what other reason could it be, other than the environment? |
|
|
| Renegade |
| quote: | Originally posted by ziptnf
Well, I mean, they're donating the profits of the personal bags to some charity, it's not like they're keeping all that money. So what other reason could it be, other than the environment? |
Again, I really hate to be so cynical about this because it is a genuinely good policy which deserves to be lauded, but ultimately there is a profit to be made (in the Australian market at least - I'm not sure how this applies to the American market) in spruiking one's green credentials. Even the petroleum companies here try to market their product to the public on their concern for the environment.
Ultimately it still works out great for everyone (the companies still turn a profit, the environment escapes the worst ravages of economic growth) but I still find it very hard to believe that the first item on the agenda of the Target board the last time they met was "how can we reduce the prevalence of unbiodegradable waste in our landfills?" as opposed to "what's the best way to market our brand to an environmentally conscious public?". |
|
|
| ziptnf |
| quote: | Originally posted by Renegade
Ultimately it still works out great for everyone (the companies still turn a profit, the environment escapes the worst ravages of economic growth) but I still find it very hard to believe that the first item on the agenda of the Target board the last time they met was "how can we reduce the prevalence of unbiodegradable waste in our landfills?" as opposed to "what's the best way to market our brand to an environmentally conscious public?". |
Sure, I mean, they want to be the first store that actually bans plastic bags, which should give them attention in the media and locally, while at the same time, giving other stores ideas. So they're running a marketing campaign and helping the environment in one fell swoop. And it's going to work, because people will love the idea of a plastic bagless way of shopping as well as feeling like they're helping the environemtn. Honestly, it's a win/win situation for Target, it's a brilliant move on their part by actually forcing their customers to buy personal bags instead of making it optional. Sure they might drive away some cheap bastards that don't have $2 bucks to buy a couple bags but it'll help their profits in the long run. |
|
|
| jerZ07002 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Renegade
Again, I really hate to be so cynical about this because it is a genuinely good policy which deserves to be lauded, but ultimately there is a profit to be made (in the Australian market at least - I'm not sure how this applies to the American market) in spruiking one's green credentials. Even the petroleum companies here try to market their product to the public on their concern for the environment.
Ultimately it still works out great for everyone (the companies still turn a profit, the environment escapes the worst ravages of economic growth) but I still find it very hard to believe that the first item on the agenda of the Target board the last time they met was "how can we reduce the prevalence of unbiodegradable waste in our landfills?" as opposed to "what's the best way to market our brand to an environmentally conscious public?". |
at the end of the day, so what? a corporation is formed for one and only one purpose: to make money. If the population demands that corporations do things for the betterment of the environment, then the corporations will become green to capture market share. Ultimately, it is the consumers in the market that control the actions of a corporation by consumer demands. |
|
|
| Zharen |
| The California legislature is also trying to pass a bill that will charge consumers an additional 25 cents for each plastic or paper bag a consumer uses. I don't believe it will pass, if it hasn't already been shot down. With unemployment high and most people tight on cash, only the die hard environmentalists will vote in favor of charging more at the grocery stores. Hell our gas prices are starting to shoot up again. God damn foreign oil. :rolleyes: |
|
|
|
|
