SINGAPORE — NTUC FairPrice will be extending its “No Plastic Bag” initiative to 25 stores across the island, up from seven previously, after a month-long trial run received positive feedback from customers.

From Nov 11, the initiative will involve 12 FairPrice outlets — including those in Hougang One, Kallang Wave Mall, Paya Lebar Quarter and Bukit Timah Plaza — 12 Cheers outlets and one FairPrice Xpress outlet.

The supermarket chain said in a media release on Monday (Nov 4) that the initiative will last for a year, and shoppers who require bags can purchase them at 20 cents per transaction at the participating FairPrice, FairPrice Finest and FairPrice Xtra stores, or 10 cents per transaction at Cheers and FairPrice Xpress stores. 

The extension of the initiative comes after FairPrice conducted a survey of 1,745 customers during their month-long trial that began on Sept 16.

FairPrice Group chief executive Seah Kian Peng said he was encouraged by the findings, which showed that 71.1 per cent of customers supported being charged for plastic bags at supermarkets.

“We also observed that more customers started to bring-your-own-bag (BYOB) and show greater awareness for the environment,” he said.

The survey found:

• 73 per cent of customers expressed that the No Plastic Bag Trial was a good initiative by FairPrice

• 34.4 per cent of customers do not bring their own bags

• 14.6 per cent of the respondents bring their own bags all the time

• 28.8 per cent shared that they bring their own bags 20 to 50 per cent of the time

• 71.1 per cent of them expressed support for plastic bag charges at supermarkets

• 28.9 per cent are not supportive of the plastic bag charge

Of those who supported the charges:

• 61.3 per cent said they wanted to do so to help save the environment.

• 12.9 per cent said the charges acted as a deterrent for using plastic bags

• 12.3 per cent said it helps reduce waste

• 13.5 per cent gave other reasons. Some said they would not mind if it is affordable or for charity, while others said “it is only right” and that other countries are already doing it.

Of those who did not support the charges:

• 32.3 per cent said providing plastic bags is part of the expected store service

• 11.9 per cent cited other reasons such as needing the plastic bag to line their trash bins

• 11.7 per cent simply did not want to pay extra charges

• 8.3 per cent said it’s too troublesome

• 1 per cent said there are other ways to save the environment

A total of S$19,000 was collected from the month-long trial, and the proceeds will go to the Singapore Children’s Society and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, Mr Seah said.

With the extension of the initiative, all proceeds will go towards sponsorship of environmental and community causes. 

FairPrice said it plans to save 30 million plastic bags a year by 2030, by “enhancing internal practices” to be more eco-friendly and through public education, partnerships and sponsorships.

It said it will continue efforts on public education to “raise awareness on the importance of plastic waste reduction”.

This will also include new initiatives to engage the public to donate their clean reusable bags in participating stores for redistribution to customers who may need it.

The list of participating outlets can be found here:

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that five Cheers outlets and eight FairPrice Xpress outlets would be involved in the initiative. NTUC FairPrice has since clarified that 12 Cheers outlets and one FairPrice Xpress outlet would be involved.