Environment-friendly bags are used in Big C. — Photo ANTD

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) – French-owned supermarket chain Big C has begun using environment-friendly biodegradable bags at all its stores in place of plastic bags.

Realising the harmful effects of plastic bags, which take hundreds of years to degrade, the supermarket has been encouraging customers to bring their own reusable bags or using empty cartons for packing.

Now, with local producers being able to supply quality bio-degradable bags, Big C is using them for packing without charging extra.

The bags are certified as environmentally friendly by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and self-destroy completely in five years.

According to the city's Environment Protection Fund, 80 per cent of supermarkets and convenience stores in HCM City are now offering environmentally friendly bags, a drastic change compared to even a year ago when plastic was mostly used.—VNS