18 May 2007
	WAR ON BAGS Body count up By Chris Gilmour

The ban on thin plastic bags in retail outlets four years ago brought a big drop in their numbers. But now plastic bag numbers are on the up. Outlets had to double the thickness of bags and charge a nominal price for them. The idea was to get customers to re use them. On the back of the 2003 legislation, Pick 'n Pay introduced its environmentally friendly "Green Bags" into the market as an alternative. The retailer expected a positive consumer response, but sales were 30 times higher than forecast. To date, more than 9m Green Bags and Kool Green Bags have been sold at Pick 'n Pay stores throughout the country. At launch the bags were made in China but are now 100% South African. Woolworths has also noticed an upturn in plastic bag numbers. In its latest sustainability report it says: "We encourage customers to use recyclable bags for food purchases but, despite this, food bag purchases have increased by 35% on last year but are still 52% lower than before the ban." Denmark was the first country to encourage the use of alternatives by imposing a tax on plastic bags in 1994. Ireland followed suit in 2002. Australia is considering legislation but African countries have undoubtedly taken the lead. Botswana, Rwanda and Tanzania all have blanket bans on the importation and use of thin plastic bags.