Pick n Pay announced that over the next two weeks it will be giving 20 000 customers a free reusable bag every day in stores across the country.

This is in line with the company's waste reduction initiatives and customers who spend more than R50 between 8 and 22 April 2019 will stand the chance to win a 100% recycled RPET Pick n Pick shopping bag. 

Paula Disberry, Retail Executive: Commercial and Marketing at Pick n Pay, says that the retailer has introduced many alternatives to minimise unnecessary single-use plastic in-store over the last year but believes it is important to supplement this with awareness campaigns to further shift customer behaviour, especially when it comes to plastic bags.

Disberry said in a statement: "In the last year Pick n Pay has seen a 21% increase in the number of people purchasing reusable bags in-store. During the same period, the number of customers who bought a plastic bag when purchasing five or more products has started to show signs of decreasing. While a small shift, this is very encouraging."

“While plastic bags can be reused and recycled, the reusable bags are more durable and longer-lasting. We understand that a plastic carrier bag remains the most economical bag option for customers, so we took up the challenge to introduce the cheapest reusable bag option. In February we launched our R5 budget reusable bag and the response has been overwhelming."

“While there are many issues to tackle with plastic waste, by driving customer behaviour we believe it can help create other more conscious plastic decisions," said Disberry.