Date:
Monday, April 30, 2007
Time: 10:36:00 PM
*Sheesh* The incessant flu attack is back AGAIN! It seems like this year alone, I have been suffering from consistent flu attack! And ironically, the cough is back again and the throat seems to feel funny. Please please please... not another high fever!
Blame the unpredictable weather and the rain. Yes, THE RAIN! Each time it rains, my nose will follow suit. You see, I can't sit in the staff room for long as my nose is really sensitive. I am sensitive to air-conditioned places!
Today.. I came to school just to show my face. Don't ask me why and how I survived.. Thank God its PH tomorrow!!
I have been meaning to blog this for quite sometime now... Its the issue of "Bring Your Own Bag Day" (BYOBD). What's the BIG issue, you may ask? For those who's still not aware of this campaign, basically its objective is to cut down on the usage of plastic bags and encourages shoppers to bring their own reusable bags while shopping.
This is the first time that the merchants are finally taking it seriously. Previously, it was just educating the shopper by encouraging to ask for fewer plastic bags. But, I guess it does not work out. Hence, from now on, the first Wednesday of the month will be put aside for BYOBD. In fact, IKEA have started its own initiative by selling their reusable bags at a discounted price and if you need to get their plastic bags, you'll be charged at 10 cents or 5 cents depending on the sizes. As far as I know, the few cents earned from the sale of these plastic bags will be donated to charity.
But all in all.. is this campaign going to benefit the general population and meets its objective at the same time? Personally, I think this campaign have too many loopholes.
First and foremost, bringing my own bag may posed as an inconvenience. WHY? Who would want to carry that unglamourous reusable bag from point to point yet you may not end up buying anything from the supermarket?? And, I am the kind who'll go inside a supermarket without any warning. There'll be times that I'll shop as if everything is on special offer while there'll be times that I'll go out with nothing. And, if possible I'll bring the minimal possible thing when I go out. I've said unglamourous reusable bag.. tell me, who'll one to bring a branded bag and dump all the groceries in it? The glamourous bag is already so expensive and you want to ruin it??
Bottom line: Maybe someone should design a nicer reusable bag which is affordable yet durable. Agree??
Secondly, I dun mind forking out the few cents in the name of charity but isn't it part of service to give out plastic bags when your customers are done with their purchases? And, did you all read about the people who bought new plastic bags from vendors just because they dun receive plastic bags from the merchants? So, is the objective met now? At least, when you get plastic bags for your purchases, you've used the bags to carry from one place to another. And then, you use it to collect your rubbish. That's like killing two birds with one stone. But, when you buy new plastic bags and use it .. what's the point? There are people who actually let their sense of 'kiasunism' shine in this campaign. They actually stocked up on plastic bags like as if it will be extinct!
And, there are some who'll avoid shopping at the supermarket totally on Wednesdays! That's to avoid the hassle of counting the days of which Wednedays will be BYOBD. Or to some, its like a sign of boycotting. Who'll suffere at the end of the day? The merchants, as their sales will decline for Wednesdays. See, its all about opportunity costs.
I believe the objective of cutting down the usage of plastic bags and at the same time saving the Earth is a good idea BUT the approach to it is left much to be desired.
If anyone is reading this and listening to my pleas.. you may want to think of this suggestion(s). As we all are aware, Singaporeans are fond of doing things that are beneficial to them. Why not, start a reward system for saving the usage of plastic bags? For example, shoppers who brings their own bags will be awarded 2 points and shoppers who use fewer plastic bags than usual will be awarded 1 point for every plastic bags saved. The points may be exchanged for say, a reusable bag? or maybe some sort of groceries..?
In this way, the objective of saving the plastic bags will be met and customers are doing it willingly and not forcefully. And, if customers come back with recycled plastic bags, maybe they can be given a token discount or something..? This will show that customers are actually recycling the plastic bags and not throwing it away. Subsequently, the awareness will be automatically inculcated in the shoppers' mind.
I am just voicing out my thoughts.. If you think I am talking sense, you may want to consider my suggestions which are not yet near perfection but may be improvised. But, if you think I am blabbering rubbish.. just pretend that you've not read this post. Thank you.
