FairPrice begins ‘no plastic bag’ trial: Most shoppers support move, some will pay surcharge

SINGAPORE — She decided to make the switch to reusable bags after learning that the FairPrice supermarket outlet she regularly patronises will be charging 20 cents for each transaction using plastic bags over the next month, starting from Monday (Sept 16).

Ms Janet Duayan, 48, a domestic helper, told TODAY during a visit to the FairPrice Finest outlet at Zhongshan Park: “It is quite inconvenient if you forget to bring your own bag. I had to pay S$1 for a reusable bag. Otherwise, it would cost S$0.20 for a plastic bag. I will definitely bring my own bag from now.”

Ms Duayan, who goes grocery shopping almost every day, is one of the many shoppers affected by NTUC FairPrice’s month-long No Plastic Bag trial. The Zhongshan Park outlet is one of a total of seven FairPrice outlets involved in the trial.

Shoppers who need plastic bags from the seven stores will have to buy them at 20 cents for each transaction at the FairPrice, FairPrice Finest and FairPrice Xtra stores involved or 10 cents for each transaction at the Cheers and FairPrice Xpress stores taking part in the trial.

Most of the 10 shoppers who spoke to TODAY said that they supported the move, even though it may be inconvenient.

Copywriter Ken Chua, 29, who was carrying a handful of snacks he bought at FairPrice at Tai Seng, said: “It’s a good idea… The S$0.20 becomes a push for people to pause and think (about whether they want to use a plastic bag).”

Another shopper, who wanted to be known only as Ms Tan, said that the added cost acts as a good reminder to bring her reusable bag when shopping.

“I usually bring my own bags when I go shopping but I forget to take them out sometimes. This (month-long trial) will remind me to take them along from home,” she said.

Notices at FairPrice Xtra in Hougang One mall advising shoppers of the one-month trial when a charge will be applied to plastic-bag use. Photo: Najeer Yusof/TODAY

However, some shoppers said that they would pay for the plastic bags because they would need it for bagging rubbish, among other purposes.

Housewife Zaiton Hussain, 59, who lives nearby and does her shopping frequently at the FairPrice Xtra in Hougang One, said: “We use the plastic bags for throwing rubbish out. Without the plastic bag, it is very difficult. We will pay for it because we need the plastic bags. But we will start reusing the plastic bags.”

Another shopper, business analyst Tong Lilin who did not give her age, said: “We still use plastic bags for other purposes so we still need to (pay for) them.”

HELP AT SELF-CHECKOUT COUNTERS

FairPrice said that staff members will be present at self-checkout counters to offer more information to shoppers about the initiative, and to provide clarification or assistance should customers require it.

TODAY understands that FairPrice will not direct customers at self-checkout counters on the appropriate number of bags they should take if they choose to pay the plastic bag surcharge. They hope that by educating shoppers on the initiative, they will choose to use fewer bags.

Volunteers from Singapore non-profit group Zero Waste SG will also help out at the self-checkout counters at the FairPrice Xtra in Hougang One over the next month.

Ms Pek Hai Lin, manager of Zero Waste SG, said: “We are supporting (NTUC FairPrice) with our volunteers and our outreach on the ground. It might last throughout the month, as and when we are able to provide the manpower. We are not able to provide that consistent manpower every single day.”

Volunteers will inform shoppers in the self-checkout queue about this month-long trial, how to pay for their plastic bags and to help them bag items.

Shoppers at self-checkout counters requiring a plastic bag will have to scan a barcode found at all these counters. Depending on which outlet they are shopping at, they will have to pay either a 10-cent or 20-cent surcharge for each transaction if they use plastic bags.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, NTUC FairPrice's chief executive officer, said at the launch on Monday: “We announced two weeks ago that, starting from today, three FairPrice stores and four Cheers stores will start the No Plastic Bag trial… Alongside this one-month trial, we are also conducting a consumer sentiment survey, so that we can understand the consumers and reactions.

“At the end of this trial, we will put all this together, see how we should rework, repackage or come up with a new scheme so that we can then implement it across the island.”

Asked about what system was likely to be rolled out at self-checkout counters should the trial prove a success, a FairPrice spokesperson said: “Insights gained from the consumer sentiment study will help us develop a well-informed, measured and sustainable actionable plan to reduce plastic-bag use.”

The seven stores involved in the trial are: FairPrice Xtra at Hougang One, FairPrice Finest at Zhongshan Park, FairPrice at Tai Seng, Cheers at Create Way in the National University of Singapore, Cheers at Sengkang Community Hospital, Cheers at 611 Aljunied Road and FairPrice Xpress at 384 Lorong Chuan.