The Green Store Scheme

The UK goverment is being so slow in bringing in green legislation. I'm still surprised that there is no tax on plastic carrier bags a la Ireland and many other European countries.

I'm hatching a plan to start a Green Store Scheme whereby stores can voluntarily join forces with the policy of 'to show or support of reducing waste, we will only give you a plastic bag if you pay' with the proceeds going to a worthy eco-cause. Need to get the ball rolling in the private sector! It would require a lot of planning, canvassing, PR and a few willing high profile stores to start the trend. I'm thinking each store would carry a poster and information on conserving, recyling and reusing. The one catch - I'd need to quit working to have time to even get to step 1. Any volunteers?

Comments

Anonymous said…

One year after writing this and talking about ideas on how to start this Green Store scheme, Marks & Spencers actually did exactly what I outlined, and then Tescos introduced bag reduction initiatives. And when I go into the supermarkets now, I'd say about 1/2 or more people now bring their own bags. A huge reversal! Clearly there was an anti-plastic bag zeitgeist just waiting to happen. It's fantastic to see how quickly people can change their habits. And businesses/store, too.

11:39 am

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