Aiming to reduce plastic bag consumption in Svalbard

Why must plastic bag consumption decrease?

To meet EU requirements and reduce the use of plastic, the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund works to reduce the consumption of plastic bags. The EU is working on new and stricter requirements related to the use of plastic bags, and the fund will develop various reduction measures in collaboration with the members. One of them is a bag experiment at Coop Svalbard. The experiment is conducted by the company Nudgelab on behalf of the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund.

We know that the EU is imposing stricter requirements, which will also apply to Norway. To see which measures actually work, we have to run tests in stores. It is great that Coop Svalbard has volunteered to test initiatives in their store, says Cecilie Lind, CEO of the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund.

Coop Svalbard wanted to address plastic bag consumption and contacted Coop Norge centrally. They were then put in touch with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund, which was looking to conduct a bag experiment in stores.

At Coop Svalbard, we are committed to both reducing littering risk in our beautiful natural surroundings and especially reducing our plastic consumption in general. Therefore, the collaboration with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund is very interesting, and we are now looking forward to implementing measures in the store that we hope will be effective, says Martine Eidem, HR and Administration Manager at Coop Svalbard.

Better for both the environment and the wallet

Coop will give free reusable shopping bags to customers as a Christmas gift. Inside the shopping bag are bin liners and a small Christmas greeting encouraging customers to use the shopping bag on their next shopping trip. The initiative is based on results from a recent study conducted by the research institute NORSUS with support from the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund. The life cycle analysis shows that reusable bags made of polyester or nylon are the best sustainable alternatives for the environment, and that bin liners are best as waste bags since they contain less plastic. Additionally, they are cheaper than plastic carrier bags, which have become increasingly expensive.

Many wonder what to use for waste when they stop buying plastic bags at the checkout. We can reassure people by telling them that using bin liners means using less plastic and saving money. The only thing you have to remember is to bring the shopping bag when you shop, so hang it where you keep your jacket or other places that will make you remember it next time, advises Lind.

A unique test environment

There is only one grocery store in Svalbard. This makes the area a unique test environment where it is easier to see if the measures undertaken in the store actually impact the consumption of plastic bags. The results from the experiment will be shared with the rest of the industry.

We hope the initiative yields good results and that it can be implemented in more chains if we succeed, concludes Lind.