How Carrefour is encouraging shoppers to go ‘plastic free’

Image: Supplied

Carrefour, operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE, is observing Plastic Free July by promoting the use of its durable, reusable ‘juco’ bags through special offers and rewards.

As part of its campaign, Carrefour will limit the availability of its reusable plastic bags across all stores in the country.

To kick off Plastic Free July, Carrefour offered customers a 33 per cent discount on its durable, reusable juco bags.

Shoppers who bring their own reusable bags or purchase one in-store will receive five extra SHARE points.

Additionally, customers who spend more than Dhs40 in the fruit and vegetable section will receive complimentary reusable bags.

Carrefour is enabling sustainable shopping habits

Starting July 3, which coincided with International Plastic Bag Free Day, Carrefour eliminated plastic bags every Wednesday in all stores.

This initiative aligns with Carrefour’s commitment to phasing out plastic bags by encouraging customers to adopt more sustainable shopping habits. It follows the UAE government’s initiative to ban certain single-use plastic bags in Dubai from June 1.

Carrefour now offers reusable bags thicker than 57 microns, complying with the new regulations, at affordable prices to promote reusable options and contribute to a greener UAE.

Part of a broader vision to eliminate the use of plastic

This effort aligns with Majid Al Futtaim’s vision of fostering healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.

“At Majid Al Futtaim, we recognise our responsibility as a trusted retailer to take active steps towards reducing plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics,” said Samar Elmnhrawy, SVP of Human Capital and Sustainability at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.

“With over 80,000 customers entering our stores daily, we see a significant opportunity to positively impact our planet and encourage sustainable lifestyles for future generations. This Plastic Free July, we embarked on a bigger plastic-free journey to drive awareness and inspire positive change.”

Elmnhrawy added, “Our efforts are aligned with the UAE leadership’s goals to eliminate single-use plastics. We hope to create tangible results that shift customer attitudes towards more sustainable shopping behaviour for a greener future.”

Dedicated to a ‘Plastic-Free’ future

Majid Al Futtaim Retail, in partnership with BEEAH and Sparklo, has collected more than 185 tonnes of recyclables through its Reverse Vending Machine initiative, preventing the release of over 1,140 tonnes of CO2. Since the national ban, Carrefour has seen a 70 per cent reduction in single-use plastic bag usage.

Carrefour’s efforts are part of its ‘Better for the Planet’ initiative, a key pillar of the retailer’s ‘Choose Better’ programme.

The programme aims to empower, educate, and reward customers for making smarter, more sustainable shopping choices.

Bonus: Key tips to enable plastic-free shopping

• Add “bring along reusable bags” to the top of your shopping list as a reminder.
• For digital lists, set a recurring reminder to bring your reusable bags.
• Keep all bags in one strategic location: Choose a visible spot like by the front door, on the kitchen counter, on the front seat of the car, or at the office to grab your reusable bags easily.
• Opt for sustainable retailers that offer bagless delivery.
• Carrefour provides plastic-free options: packing without bags or boxes and delivering items individually (free of charge), or packing in paper bags and boxes (with a minor additional charge).
• Have different bags for different needs: Insulated bags for frozen or chilled items, heavy-duty bags for heavy products, lighter bags for fruits, vegetables, and condiments.
• Opt for compact reusable bags that can fold into a pocket-sized pouch for convenience.
• Choose bags that you love in terms of fabric, design, or size to make them fashionable and functional.