Japan ministries to test ways to cut number of plastic bags

January 25, 2020

Tokyo--Japan's industry ministry said Friday that it will launch a demonstration experiment next week at convenience stores at three government ministries and one agency to test ways to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags.

The experiment will be conducted for three weeks from Monday at convenience stores at the industry ministry and the finance and foreign ministries as well as the Japan Patent Office.

The ministries and the JPO have created their own cards allowing convenience store customers to show whether they need a plastic shopping bag.

The test, which will examine which cards are the most effective in reducing the number of plastic shopping bags, is based on "nudge theory," aimed at leading people to take a favorable action without relying on regulations.

The card made by the Finance Ministry says "no plastic bags," with customers asked to show it only when they need no shopping bags at the cash register.

The convenience stores at the industry and foreign ministries and the JPO will not distribute plastic bags in principle, requiring customers to present cards if they need plastic bags.

The card created by the JPO says "need plastic bags," while the Foreign Ministry's card says that regulations on plastic shopping bags have been introduced in over 60 countries.

The industry ministry's card contains a picture of marine plastic waste in an attempt to raise public awareness about environmental pollution.

An industry ministry official predicted that the Finance Ministry card will be least effective in reducing plastic bags and the industry ministry's card will be most effective.

From July, retailers in Japan will be obliged to charge customers fees for plastic shopping bags. Jiji Press