Vancouver market uses embarrassing plastic bags to promote going plastic-free

East West Market in Vancouver has thought of a new and creative way to discourage customers from using single-use plastic bags.

In addition to charging their customers for using plastic bags, the East-West Market has printed embarrassing texts on their sides.

If the guilt of using plastic instead of reusable bags doesn’t get to you, the cringe-worthy shame of walking around with a bag that says ‘Into the Weird Adult Video Emporium’ or ‘The Colon Care Co-op’ certainly should.

The independent grocery store specialises in gourmet goods and locally-sourced products. They’ve been serving the community since 1996 and hope to encourage customers to bring their reusable bags when they go shopping.

“So many people own reusable bags but forget to bring them,” said David Lee Kwen, East West’s owner, “We want to help customers remember their reusable bags in a way that will really stick with them.”

East West Market plans to continue handing out the speciality bags for the foreseeable future, but note they would rather no one take them at all. Instead, they hope to start a conversation about single-use plastic bags and influence shoppers to bring their own bags – whether they are shopping at East West or somewhere else.

@MuirJennie

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