Put an end to free plastic bags

The Buman motion, which wanted to ban disposable plastic bags altogether, has definitely been taken off the table by parliament. The Swiss retail trade is pleased about this. However, it now wants to implement voluntary measures to quickly and massively reduce the number of disposable plastic bags distributed.

Coop is forging ahead and has already implemented its measures as of October 24. From then on, disposable plastic bags will cost 5 centimes, at least at 10 points of sale in the city of Zurich. Surveys and tests by Coop have shown that four out of five customers will give up a disposable plastic bag as soon as it costs something.

Reduction by 80 % as target

As a first step, Coop will examine the processes at the checkouts in the ten sales outlets to make them as customer-friendly as possible. By spring 2017, the ecological Raschel bags will then be available for 5 centimes in all 850-plus Coop supermarkets throughout Switzerland. Coop has set itself the goal of reducing the number of single-use plastic bags dispensed in Coop supermarkets by 80 % in this way.

100 % recycled material bags

Coop wants to achieve a sustainable and customer-friendly solution when dealing with the disposable plastic bags. Therefore, at Coop, these are made from 100 % recycled material, largely from film waste from Coop distribution centers. The proceeds from the sale of the single-use bags go into the Coop Fund for Sustainability, which Coop uses to support innovative and sustainable projects. Alternatively, customers can continue to purchase reusable bags at Coop supermarket checkouts.

Migros has tested model

Migros will follow suit from November 1. It wants to introduce the tax nationwide right away. A test has already been running since 2013 in the canton of Vaud, where Migros charges 5 centimes for the bags. According to Migros, customers quickly got used to it - and consumption has fallen sharply. Migros also wants to have the bags made from 100% recycled material.

Migros is also not earning any money from the new levies - it wants to channel the profits into external environmental projects.

Pack vegetables for free - or with reusable bags

Vegetable and fruit bags are still exempt from the tax. Here, however, Migros is also currently testing an alternative: reusable vegetable bags made of polyester, with flags on the side to attach the labels. The bags are washable and were developed in collaboration with the marine conservation organization Ocean Care. A pack of four costs 9.90 Swiss francs and is sold under the name "Veggie Bags".

Source: Coop Switzerland / Swiss Retail Federation / IG DHS