Malls and stores all over Thailand will not use plastic bags on National Environmental Day, which falls on Dec. 4, in an effort to reduce plastic waste and raise awareness regarding the pressing issue.
Among retailers who have joined the campaign are Central Department Stores, The Mall Group, Zen, Emquartier, Siam Paragon as well as CP ALL, which owns the 7-Eleven franchise in Thailand.
Supermarkets such as Tesco Lotus, Big C, Tops, and Gourmet Market will also participate.
The Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and environment, announced the plastic halt earlier this month and has since even come out with additional incentives such as giveaways and hashtags to inspire netizens to promote the cause.
Thai environmental day was originally established by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in 1991 with the goal of encouraging citizens to engage in eco-friend activities.
Though this day hasn’t been so widely publicized in the past, the intensified international spotlight on Thailand’s environmental efforts following multiple stories about sea creatures dying after eating plastic bags this year may change that.
Responses so far appear to be primarily positive. Extremely so even.
“Why is it only one day? Let’s make it a law,” wrote one commenter on the DEQP’s announcement on their Facebook page
“Ban it forever,” wrote many others.
