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MALAYSIA. Syed Mokhsain Holdings Sdn Bhd (SMH) has pledged its commitment to the Green Earth Campaign by donating RM0.10 (US$0.03) for every plastic bag refused by a customer.
The retailer at Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the first to announce its commitment towards the green campaign.
“We are implementing the Green Earth campaign as a vehicle to put our plans into action. The plan is simple: when you refuse a plastic bag after making a purchase at any Green Earth airport shop, we will put RM0.10 into the Green Earth coin box, which we have placed at the cashier counter," the company said.
“Customers can see their actions translating into a real effort by SMH immediately. The accumulated sum contributed will be used to plant trees.
“In general, most retail companies assume that using plastic bags is more convenient for consumers. Yet the fact of the matter is that every single plastic bag produced leaves a negative impact on the environment. Each of our actions leaves a footprint on the earth.
“We choose how big or small a carbon footprint we want to leave behind for our future generations. In view of this, SMH is committed to helping provide a sustainable planet by helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint.”
Research shows that a typical tropical tree can absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide during its 40-year lifespan. Trees also act as the earth’s natural thermal regulators, supporting life and reflecting solar radiation. Every tree harvested for commercial purposes reduces the number of the earth’s natural air filters, which in turn translates to the rapid build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
SMH has set a target of planting at least 200 trees by the end of this campaign.
The company is also embarking on an awareness campaign to highlight the importance of reducing the use of plastic bags and wastage.
Through its fully owned subsidiaries SMH manages and operates a chain of Green Earth retail stores at KLIA, Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Langkawi International Airport. The company expects this effort to also pay off in its operational costs as it produces fewer plastic bags when the campaign is in full swing.
“Each year we produce and use approximately 400,000 plastic bags for use at our outlets. We hope that this campaign can help create awareness among consumers as well as retailers.
“Today more and more consumers are already using their own reusable bags for shopping groceries. This trend seems to be catching on but only amongst a small fraction of the population. Ideally we hope to see a world where disposable consumer plastic bags are no longer being used,” the company said.
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