As of June 1, China banned grocery stores from giving out free plastic bags to customers, joining Sweden, Ireland, and a few other places in raising awareness of how wasteful plastic bags are. (I never saw the necessity, in China as well as New York, for stores give you a bag just for Coke or to double-bag a carton of milk.) Now reusable grocery bags are being worn everywhere and sold in every other clothing shop. I found this one with Mao the Smoking Bicyclist at Grifted on Nanluoguxiang, Beijing’s unofficial hipster hutong. (They also have a line of Socialist dolls.)
In other fun news, Serious Eats found Absinthe gummy bears in New York. And Syria currently has the world’s largest restaurant, seating at max. of 6,014 people, with separate theme sections for Chinese and Indian food.
Totally totally agree with you!! I have started BYOB (bring your own bag) for ages. I have also started looking at the packing when I buy. I now give up buying certain products because of the excessive packing.
I think they want to push the banning in the uk as well (where I am living) but I don’t think they will see a success in a short term. When I say I will put the stuff in my own bag at the till, the cashier still gives me a funny look….. still long way to go before everybody can ditch plastic bags.
been to guangzhou?..there are a LOT of good food there..
I was born in Guangzhou, and still visit very often. So yes, I know the amazing food they have there. Quality- and choice-wise, Hong Kong is still better, but Guangzhou is still one of the best places in China to get very fresh, well-prepared foodstuffs.
I can definitely relate to the funny looks. Up until maybe 2 days before the ban, Chinese shop owners still looked at me funny, even seemed insulted, when I said I didn’t need a bag. Now the same shopkeepers act like BYOBag has been a apart of the Chinese psyche for decades. What a difference a government mandate makes.
That bag is so funny! I think it’s great that China is moving in this direction.
Yes, it’s funny. But can you buy a shopping bag with Hu Jintao playing ping pong in a swimming trunk?