Last summer, Handelens Miljøfond increased the quota on the plastic bag so that the bag in many shops ended up costing NOK 4.25. After that, plastic bag sales fell sharply.
– We saw that plastic bag sales went up by 40 per cent compared to the autumn of the previous year. At the same time, sales of waste bags and shopping nets increased, but after Christmas we see that the statistics have leveled off.
Cecilie Lind, general manager of Handelens Miljøfond, says so. They believe the statistics are not going in the right direction.
Therefore, they have now decided to increase the quota by 1 kroner from 1 May. This may mean that the price of the plastic bag in the shop will increase by NOK 1.25. Thus, the plastic bag can cost almost NOK 6.
Do you buy a plastic bag when you shop?
Yes, most of the time.
Yes, but I always reuse the bag.
No, I bring a shopping net.
No never.
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40 bags a year
Handelens Miljøfond’s aim is for Norwegians to reduce the use of plastic bags to 40 plastic bags per inhabitant by the end of 2025. Right now Norwegians use approx. 80 plastic bags each a year. And that’s not good enough.
– Plastic bag consumption must decrease so that we are able to reach the target we have set ourselves. That’s why we have to set up the quota, says Lind.
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Martine Aksnes
– I feel that everything is increasing by the day, so I am not shocked that the plastic bag is also increasing. Nevertheless, I think plastic bags are a problem, so I also understand that the price is increasing.
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Beate Bø
– It is good that the price is raised, but I thought it should be a more reasonable price. I also thought it was wrong to only focus on the plastic bag. There is also a lot of food in the store that is wrapped in plastic.
Although Handelens Miljøfond is now increasing the quota. Then it is up to the shops, even if they want to increase the price of the plastic bag.
Several of the large retail chains in Norway are members of Handelens Miljøfond. In an e-mail to NRK, several of them have replied that they do not know whether they will increase the price of the plastic bag. Nevertheless, most respond that they will follow the decisions made in the environmental fund.
CEO of Handelens Miljøfond, Cecilie Lind, has a goal that all Norwegians should use 40 plastic bags a year.
Photo: Handelens Miljøfond
Clear connection
The Consumer Council also works to make it cheaper and easier to make good and environmentally friendly choices. Head of consumer policy at the Consumer Council, Gunstein Instefjord, believes that a price increase could make even more people reduce their plastic bag consumption.
– There is a clear connection between people’s wallets and our attitudes. When the price increases, you will become more thoughtful in relation to whether you need this. Often, one tries to reduce consumption.
Head of consumer policy at the Consumer Council, Gunstein Instefjord, says there is a clear connection between people’s wallets and attitudes
Photo: Kjell Håkon K. Larsen
Nevertheless, Instefjord says that it is important for consumers to have good alternatives to the plastic bag if they are to make a change.
General manager of Handelens Miljøfond, Cecilie Lind hopes that a price increase can make even more people change their habits.
– Many people want to live more sustainably, so I hope that this can give a friendly push to those who haven’t switched to online shopping yet, says Lind.
Tags: price plastic bag increasing NRK Norway Overview news parts country
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