Goodbye free plastic bags
Rephrase the word in bold:
From July 1st 2020 it will be mandatory for stores in Japan to charge for plastic bags
= free plastic bags will be banned/prohibited
= stores will be prohibited from giving customers free plastic bags
Retailers are divided on the new law.
= the new law is controversial among retailers
= Some stores are opposed to/against the new law while others welcome/support it
The government wants people to use 25% less single use plastic bags
= the government wants to cut the use of single use plastic bags by 25%
= the government wants to reduce single use plastic bag use by 25%
There are 3 exemptions:
biodegradable bags
bags that contain 25% or more plant derived materials
bags 0.5 mm thick or more
In general convenience stores welcome/support the exemptions but small businesses, supermarkets and department stores are opposed to them. - Why?
Q: Which country uses the fewest single-use plastic bags annually?
Q: How many single use bags does the average person use there?
Q: In 2002 what country was the first to ban single use plastic bags?
69 countries have introduced a full or partial plastic bag ban. Many of these were in developing countries. Why?
32 countries (many in Europe) have placed a tax (or fee) on all plastic bags.
Sources:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Environment/Japanese-retailers-divided-on-plan-for-mandatory-plastic-bag-fees
https://www.statista.com/chart/14120/the-countries-banning-plastic-bags/
https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2019/03/12/Cutting-plastic-waste-Kirin-to-use-50-recycled-plastic-in-PET-materials-by-2027
https://features.japantimes.co.jp/climate-crisis-plastic/