According to local reports, an average Malaysian uses approximately 300 plastic bags per year, but local environmentalists and waste management experts suggest that most Malaysians use three to five plastic bags per day. Malaysia was ranked first among the six countries surveyed in terms of annual per capita plastic packaging use, with 16.78 kilogrammes per person, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s “Plastic Packaging in Southeast Asia and China.”
Here are 3 ways on how the local supermarket plans to go greener.
Reusable Mesh Bags
The Food Purveyor Chief Executive Officer Geoff King said they are eliminating single-use plastic packaging from its fresh produce sections by offering more loose fruits and vegetables and encouraging the use of reusable mesh bags. This year, their supermarkets are targeting the elimination of another 20 million single-use produce bags.
Commitment
The Food Purveyor, according to King, is committed to not use single-use plastic packaging. Some vendors are wrapping their vegetables and herbs in banana leaves and storing them in glass bottles. The majority of its crates in which the fruits and vegetables are stored are biodegradable.
Support Zero-Waste Grocery Stores
Khor Sue Yee, co-founder of Zero Waste Malaysia said that the understanding of the harm caused by plastic waste has led to the establishment of a zero-waste shopping environment for Malaysians in many supermarkets and grocery stores.
She believes that as more consumers become conscious of the need to protect the environment, zero-waste shopping will become the norm.
“A lot of resources, energy and effort go into creating something as simple as a glass jar, for example. Be more mindful of the packaging, energy and water we use. Just use what is needed, and don’t waste,” she added.
