Patagonia to stop the use of plastic bags at Japan stores

Outdoor clothing store, Patagonia International Inc., which operates 22 stores in Japan, announced that it will abolish the use of plastic shopping bags from April 1st, 2020.

Japan has shared a global goal at the G20 Osaka summit in June this year, to reduce plastic waste inflow to the ocean to zero by 2050. Furthermore, by April 1st at the earliest, the Japanese government announced that it will officially adopt the strategy to revise the ministerial ordinance to charge plastic bags used at all stores, including those given out at supermarkets and convenience stores.

From quite a while ago, Patagonia has been keen on the environment and has been attempting to keep plastic waste to a minimum. Since 1989, when it opened its first store in Mejiro, Toshima Ward, Patagonia has been providing shopping bags made of 100 percent recycling paper. Soon after, they started promoting “eco-bags” by selling canvas bags made of organic cotton. From 2007, they took a step further and started adopting “depo-bags” for those who still don’t bring their own bags. These recycled bags made of LDPE plastic are provided to customers with a deposit of 100 yen. The amount is returned when the customers bring back the “depo-bags” to the store.

Through these approaches, 83% of customers who shop at Patagonia now bring their own eco-bags. Taking this into consideration, they have decided to abolish “depo-bags” altogether and have all its customers bring their own bags to take their purchase home. For those who have forgotten to bring their eco-bags, an “eco-bag sharing” system will begin from April 1st too. This system allows customers to pick a shared eco-bag up from the store. From last month, Patagonia is calling upon people to bring in their ego-bags from home—including those of other brands—to the store for sharing.

Japan produces the second largest amount of plastic waste per capita following the United States, but has lagged behind other countries in stopping the use of plastics such as disposable containers and shopping bags. Patagonia’s approach leads the way to change that, so that more people become conscious about the environment and start bringing their own eco-bags.