I have started eco-shopping life. I do not take plastic shopping bags every time I buy something any more. Instead, I bring my own bags to supermarkets, and when at casher, I tell 'no plastic bags thank you'. Recently, alot of shops have also started this eco-shopping system, so every time I refuse to use plastic bags, they give me the shop's stamp. When the stams become full, I will get some discounts! I love this system:) Im happy to get some discounts while Im being kind to the earth, what is more, is that those shops can also reduce costs a lot.
I realized the good of this system while in Brisbane. In Brisbane, people can get this huge eco-shopping bag, only AU$1. Every shop there sell those bags of each own. I bought some of those bags, and brought them back to Japan. They are actually very usuful bcz it is just huuuge, you know, it is Aus' size.
However, I have found some difficulties for Japan to adjust this system into our shopping life, as there are differences between Aus and Japan.
1, In Australia, the dominant way of transportation is a car. When people send their kids to school, go to grocery shores, go out for dinner, etc. Everytime people go somewhere, it is definately by cars. Therefore, people can buy sooooo many things at shops at one time, and they can just drive a car back home no matter how heavy their bags are. While in Japan, most housewifes ride bicycles to go to supermarkets, so automaticaly, things we buy have to be less than the size of our bicycles' front cage. It is small, so most people go to grocery stores every day.
2, In Australia, there are a lot of different shops in one building, so you can use the eco-shopping bags at every shop in a place. In Japan, one shop is one place, so when I have to buy lots of things, I have to go a shop, buy things, use plastic bags, leave there for a next shop, use the shop's plce tice bags, another one, another one, like that. It is so UNefficient. When I use a same eco bag to shop at those different stores, the staff sometimes asks me 'isnt that in you bag our product?' In a case like this, I show a recept, and prove that I already paid at different shop.
It is sooo UNuseful.
3, In Australia, people can just keep those eco bags in their cars so that they do not forget. In Japan, as I said, people mainly use bicycles, so we cannot keep those bags in the bikes' cages, so I sometimes forget to bring the bags, and receive plastic bags,　and feel sorry.
Like above, it still seems difficult for our shopping life to adjust this eco shopping system. However, more people should use the eco bags more often. I mean to encourage people around me while I walk in the supermarkets with my own eco shopping bags. I hope some poeple are curious to what I am carrying with, and I also hope that more people get to know how we can save our earth seeing that I get special stamps from cashiers. It is easy! Lets just get start, everyone:)
I realized the good of this system while in Brisbane. In Brisbane, people can get this huge eco-shopping bag, only AU$1. Every shop there sell those bags of each own. I bought some of those bags, and brought them back to Japan. They are actually very usuful bcz it is just huuuge, you know, it is Aus' size.
However, I have found some difficulties for Japan to adjust this system into our shopping life, as there are differences between Aus and Japan.
1, In Australia, the dominant way of transportation is a car. When people send their kids to school, go to grocery shores, go out for dinner, etc. Everytime people go somewhere, it is definately by cars. Therefore, people can buy sooooo many things at shops at one time, and they can just drive a car back home no matter how heavy their bags are. While in Japan, most housewifes ride bicycles to go to supermarkets, so automaticaly, things we buy have to be less than the size of our bicycles' front cage. It is small, so most people go to grocery stores every day.
2, In Australia, there are a lot of different shops in one building, so you can use the eco-shopping bags at every shop in a place. In Japan, one shop is one place, so when I have to buy lots of things, I have to go a shop, buy things, use plastic bags, leave there for a next shop, use the shop's plce tice bags, another one, another one, like that. It is so UNefficient. When I use a same eco bag to shop at those different stores, the staff sometimes asks me 'isnt that in you bag our product?' In a case like this, I show a recept, and prove that I already paid at different shop.
It is sooo UNuseful.
3, In Australia, people can just keep those eco bags in their cars so that they do not forget. In Japan, as I said, people mainly use bicycles, so we cannot keep those bags in the bikes' cages, so I sometimes forget to bring the bags, and receive plastic bags,　and feel sorry.
Like above, it still seems difficult for our shopping life to adjust this eco shopping system. However, more people should use the eco bags more often. I mean to encourage people around me while I walk in the supermarkets with my own eco shopping bags. I hope some poeple are curious to what I am carrying with, and I also hope that more people get to know how we can save our earth seeing that I get special stamps from cashiers. It is easy! Lets just get start, everyone:)
