Convenience store chain “7-11” will stop giving plastic bags to shoppers at 137 pilot branches starting November 25, before implementing the plastic bag policy nationwide on January 1, 2020.

Suwit Kingkaew, senior vice president of sustainable development at CP All Pcl, operator of the 7-11 chain in Thailand, said on Friday (Nov. 22) that the company was willing to support the government’s policy of reducing the use of plastic bags by joining the “Go Green, No Plastic Bag” campaign with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment earlier this month.

“Starting November 25, CP All will stop giving plastic bags to 7-11 customers at 137 pilot branches scattered nationwide,” he said. “This pilot programme will get us ready to the 'no plastic bag' policy to be employed at the start of next year at all branches of 7-11.”

Suwit further added that the use of plastic bags is still allowed for some products, including hot foods, wet foods, meats and fruit, which is in accordance with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s recommendation.

“The branches that will stop giving plastic bags next week will display posters to let customers know that they should bring their own bags when shopping there,” said Suwit. “If customers don’t have their own bags, 7-11 also sells high-quality fabric bags at a reasonable price."

As part of the “Go Green, No Plastic Bag” campaign, CP All has donated money that they saved from giving fewer plastic bags at 7-11 since August to hospitals nationwide to buy medical equipments.

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