- FairPrice concluded its month-long “No Plastic Bag” trial at seven stores on 16 October 2019, which saw a positive change in consumers’ behaviour
- Initiative will be extended to 25 stores for a year from 11 November 2019. Plastic bags will be available at S$0.20 and S$0.10 per transaction at selected supermarkets and convenience stores respectively and proceeds will go towards sponsorship of environmental and community causes
Singapore, 4 November 2019 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) today released results of its consumer sentiment survey conducted during the month-long “No Plastic Bag” trial (16 September to 16 October 2019). It also announced the extension of this initiative to 25 stores, including the original seven stores following positive consumer survey findings. The initiative will start from 11 November 2019, for a year.
Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group CEO, FairPrice Group, said, “The ‘No Plastic Bag’ trial was introduced to reduce excessive use of plastic bags and encourage a behavioural change in customers. We are heartened by the survey findings, which showed that majority of customers (71.1 per cent) are receptive towards a plastic bag charge. We also observed that more customers started to bring-your-own-bag (BYOB) and show greater awareness for the environment.”
Highlights of Consumer Sentiment Survey Results
Through the consumer sentiment study conducted during the trial, FairPrice surveyed 1,745 customers, who were interviewed about their BYOB behaviours as well as their receptivity towards plastic bag reduction efforts. In total, 73 per cent of surveyed customers expressed positive sentiments towards the trial, and noted that it was a good initiative by FairPrice.
When surveyed about BYOB sentiments, 34.4 per cent of customers shared that they do not bring their own bags, and only 14.6 per cent of the interviewees bring their own bags all the time. However, 71.1 per cent of them expressed support for plastic bag charges at supermarkets. Majority of those in support of this charge (61.3 per cent) want to do so to help save the environment. Other reasons cited include charges acting as a deterrent for using plastic bags (12.9 per cent), and also helping reduce waste (12.3 per cent).
Interviewees who did not express support for plastic bag charges shared that providing plastic bags were part of the expected store service (32.3 per cent). Other reasons cited were needing the plastic bag to line their trash bins (11.9 per cent) or simply not wanting to pay extra charges (11.7 per cent).
At the peak of the trial, FairPrice at Tai Seng saw a 2,760 per cent increase in BYOB transactions, while FairPrice Xtra at Hougang One and FairPrice Finest at Zhongshan Park saw a 2,524 per cent and 401 per cent increase respectively. However, BYOB transactions fell significantly during the final week of the trial as compared to the peak.
Extension of the “No Plastic Bag” Initiative
Following the successful trial and positive feedback from the public, FairPrice will be extending its “No Plastic Bag” initiative to 12 FairPrice and 13 Cheers/FairPrice Xpress stores. This initiative will run for a year from 11 November 2019. Customers who require bags can purchase them at S$0.20 per transaction (FairPrice, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra stores) or S$0.10 per transaction (Cheers, FairPrice Xpress stores). Proceeds from the charge will go towards the sponsorship of environmental and community causes. A full list of participating stores can be found in the Annex.
At the same time, FairPrice will continue efforts on public education to raise awareness on the importance of plastic waste reduction. This includes new initiatives to engage the public to donate their clean reusable bags in participating stores for redistribution to customers who may need it.
FairPrice’s Sustainability Efforts
During the “No Plastic Bag” trial, FairPrice collaborated with community partners and volunteers from Zero Waste SG and Young NTUC to explain the initiative as well as the importance of reducing excessive plastic use to customers.
FairPrice targets to save 30 million plastic bags per annum by 2030 through a holistic approach that involves enhancing internal practices to be more eco-friendly, public education, partnerships and sponsorships.
Mr Seah said, “We thank the public for their support and are pleased to conclude the trial with a donation of S$19,000, collected from the plastic bag charge. The proceeds will go to the Singapore Children’s Society and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.”
He added, “FairPrice Group will continue to work with like-minded partners to educate and encourage the public to adopt sustainable habits and practices. We invite other supermarket retailers to join us as we work towards minimising excessive use of plastic bags as a nation. We are also liaising with government agencies to align efforts for more efficient public outreach and community engagement.”
Annex:
| S/N | Store Format | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FairPrice Xtra @ Hougang One | No. 1 Hougang St 91 #02-01 Hougang 1 Singapore 538692 |
| 2 | FairPrice Xtra @ Kallang Wave Mall | 1 Stadium Place Level 1, #01-29 Singapore 397628 |
| 3 | FairPrice Finest @ 100AM | 100 Tras Street #B1-01, 100AM, Singapore 079027 |
| 4 | FairPrice Finest @ Zhong Shan Park | 20 Ah Hood Road #02-01 Zhong Shan Park Singapore 329984 |
| 5 | FairPrice Finest @ Paya Lebar Quarter | 10 Paya Lebar Road #B2-09 Paya Lebar Quarter, Singapore 409057 |
| 6 | FairPrice Finest @ Terminal 3 | 65 Airport Boulevard,Basement 2 North, #B2-10 Singapore 819663 |
| 7 | FairPrice Finest @ Funan | 107 North Bridge Road, #B1-10, Funan Mall, Singapore 179105 |
| 8 | FairPrice Finest @ Bukit Timah Plaza | #B1-01 & #B2-01 Bukit Timah Plaza, No.1 Jln Anak Bukit, Singapore 588996 |
| 9 | FairPrice Finest @ Valley Point | 491 River Valley Road, #01-14 Valley Point Singapore 248371 |
| 10 | FairPrice @ Coronation Plaza | 587 Bukit Timah Road #01-01, Coronation Plaza Singapore 269707 |
| 11 | FairPrice @ Orchid Country Club | 1 Orchid Club Road #01-34 Level 1, Orchid Country Club Singapore 769162 |
| 12 | FairPrice @ Tai Seng | 18 Tai Seng St, #B1-13, Maple Tree 18, Singapore 539775 |
| 13 | Cheers | 1 Create Way #01-01 Singapore 138602 |
| 14 | Cheers | 1 Anchorvale St, Sengkang Community Hospital Singapore 544835 |
| 15 | Cheers | 920 New Upper Changi Road, #01-01, Tanah Merah MRT Station, Singapore 467356 |
| 16 | Cheers | 1 Joo Koon Circle #02-25, FairPrice Hub, Singapore 629117 |
| 17 | Cheers | No 2 Keppel Bay Drive #B1-133 Caribbean at Keppel Bay Singapore 098635 |
| 18 | Cheers | 611 Aljunied Rd Singapore 389830 |
| 19 | Cheers | 174 Holland Road Singapore 278582 |
| 20 | Cheers | 30 Dunearn Road, Singapore 309425 |
| 21 | Cheers | 141 Bukit Timah Road Singapore 229841 |
| 22 | Cheers | 751 Bukit Timah Road Singapore 269757 |
| 23 | Cheers | 650 Dunearn Road, Singapore 289630 |
| 24 | Cheers | 870 Dunearn Road, Singapore 589471 |
| 25 | FairPrice Xpress | 384 Lorong Chuan Singapore 556810 |