In June, Dubai introduced a plastic bag ban, specifically targeting single-use bags, as part of the city’s wider bid to make daily life more sustainable. However, shoppers may still encounter plastic bags at the till. Here’s why.
Introduction of the Plastic Bag Ban:
First announced at the beginning of 2023, the plastic bag ban aims to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability. Initially, a fee of 25 fils was required from July 2022 until June 2024 for anyone who needed a single-use bag. This charge was scrapped when the single-use bags were banned.
The plastic bag ban applies to all single-use bags made from materials thinner than 57 micrometers, including those made of paper and biodegradable plant material. The bags currently offered at tills are thicker than 57 micrometers, making them reusable and capable of multiple shopping trips.
Retailer Policies and Incentives:
Retail outlets in Dubai are encouraging customers to reuse bags. Here’s what some major retailers are doing:
- Spinneys: Spinneys offers high-grade reusable shopping bags made from 100% recycled plastic. Customers who return a reusable bag get 25 fils off their next bill. “Just inform your cashier on checkout,” said Warwick Gird, General Manager of Marketing at Spinneys.
- Carrefour: Carrefour provides reusable bags thicker than 57 micrometers. All plastic bags are removed every Wednesday to mark International Plastic Bag Free Day in July.
- Lulu: Lulu stores offer bags thicker than 57 micrometers, as well as sustainable options made from recycled materials, jute, or cloth, ranging from Dh1 to Dh10.
- Nesto: Customers are encouraged to purchase shopper trolleys and use them for multiple shopping trips in addition to the available reusable bag options.
Future Prohibitions on Single-Use Items:
The single-use plastic bag ban is the first step in gradually phasing out of one-time-use products across Dubai. Starting January 1, 2025, plastic stirrers, cups, styrofoam food containers, table covers, plastic straws, and plastic cotton swabs will be prohibited. From 2026, other plastic or foam products like cups, plates, cutlery, boxes, and containers will no longer be allowed.
Environmental Impact:
Plastic bags take 400 years to decompose in the environment, and their negative environmental impact lasts for thousands of years. The measures taken by Dubai aim to mitigate this impact and promote a greener city.
In conclusion, while the plastic bag ban in Dubai targets single-use bags, the thicker reusable bags currently offered at stores align with the city’s sustainability goals. Retailers are incentivizing customers to adopt reusable options, and further prohibitions on single-use items are on the horizon.
