Waitrose aligns with UAE ban on single-use plastic bags

Waitrose aligns with UAE ban on single-use plastic bags

Waitrose & Partners UAE is phasing out all single-use plastic bags from its stores across the UAE, as the new policy set by The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi to ban single-use plastics at all checkouts came into force on June 1 in the emirate. Its stores in Dubai will follow suit from July 1. Waitrose UAE will do the same regionally, starting with single-use plastic bags followed by the elimination of paper bags in the following months. This also aligns with the Waitrose & Partners Plastic Plan, which aims to reduce the company’s impact on the environment by removing unnecessary plastics. To encourage customers to use reusable bags, Waitrose will discount 25 fils from their total bill when customers bring one or more bags to shop with at store regardless the bag material or brand. Sunil Kumar, CEO of Fine Fare Foods which owns and operates Waitrose UAE, said: “This ban is yet another step forward to a sustainable way of living that we are committed to encouraging at Waitrose. Waitrose is continuously innovating to reduce its environmental impact and emissions, and while we know there is still a lot of work to be done, the removal of single-use