Plastic is sadly a huge part of our lives. It’s wraps most things we buy, we use to it store things, and we sometimes toss it away without thinking about where it will end up or the effect our action will have on the ecosystem. Plastic packaging is excessively used in Korea and is often just tossed on the ground as something for someone else to deal with. Plastic bags are also everywhere too and are often discarded. However there seems to be changes being made to try and curb the use of plastic bags.
There have been changes in regards to plastic bags in both E Mart and Home Plus (I don’t know about Lotte Mart). I went shopping at Home Plus last week and the cashier asked me if I brought my own bags (which I always do). She then took off 100 Won from my overall bill because I brought my own bags. Home Plus just started this policy to try and encourage more people to bring their own bags and (hopefully) cut down on the number of plastic bags being used.
E Mart has an even better idea. What they are doing at the store is instead of giving you a plastic bag, you are given your groceries in a garbage bag. This is a better idea, gives you something you will use, and is one or two less plastic bags that would have been used otherwise. I don’t often shop at Lotte Mart because it’s across town from me but if anyone can tell me what they are doing in regards to plastic bags, I’d appreciate it.
Now if only we as a civilization could do more right now to ensure our survival.
