Every year the world uses 500 billion plastic bags!
The focus of the UN Environment’s campaign for this World Environment Day (June 5) is reducing single-use and disposable plastic, which accounts for 50 per cent of plastic we use- including plastic bags, containers, forks and spoons, cups, straws, sanitary pads etc.
PondyLive has been highlighting individuals , non-profits and businesses who are beating plastic pollution in their own ways, big and small. Don’t forget to share your story with us below in the comment section or on facebook or instagram with #PlasticFreePondy
Nilgiris is the first supermarket in Pondicherry to have introduced cloth bags for shoppers at the checkout counter. It was a bold decision that we made for environmental reasons eight years ago. At one point, we also gave away jute bags worth Rs. 100 free of cost and encouraged customers to bring them back later so that they could get a 5% off on their purchase.
Now we sell bio-degradable non-woven bags for a minimal cost at the billing counters. We save up to 1 to 1.5 tons of plastic per month.
Supermarkets are great centres for spreading awareness. I always endorse and educate customers on the importance of switching to alternatives of single-use plastic. While some are eager to pick fights with us for charging for these bags, others who know the environmental reasons behind our decision to not provide plastic bags for purchases, buy these bags from us.
– Baskar, Manager, Nilgiris Supermarket, Pondicherry
