Independent food stores are known to use minimal packaging and encourage recycling of their produce to promote greener living.

But now one grocery shop in Vancouver has gone a step further by designing plastic bags to embarrass its customers from using single-use plastics.

East West Market, an independent store selling only local food, hopes the move will encourage people to bring their own reusable bags to shop instead of relying on the single-use plastics many are used to.

Customers will be charged five cents per “embarrassing” plastic bag they take, which will have messages such as “Weird Adult Video Emporium” and “Wart Ointment Wholesal” printed on them.

The gourmet specialist market, located on Main Street and King Edward Avenue, believes the campaign will influence people to switch to more environmentally friendly bags wherever they choose to shop.

David Lee Kwen, East West’s owner, said: “So many people own reusable bags but forget to bring them. We want to help customers remember their reusable bags in a way that will really stick with them.”

“It’s certainly generated interest in what we’re trying to put out. Once you start a conversation, it will skyrocket from there, I think.”