The Plastic Bag Mystery: Solved

Why is it that even after all the attention we've been getting about plastic bags and their excessive use, we still see the blatant abuse of them at the supermarkets for even the smallest items?

I think I know - It's because of great customer service and over-enthusiastic cashiers.

Campaigns and companies should begin by training their check-out staff to become less helpful. Or maybe they're just over-compensating for bad service elsewhere in the store by giving stacks and stacks of bags to everyone. "Free! Take! Take! We've got great service and I'm so helpful. Have another bag! In fact have three!! Dual-layers in case it breaks on your 10m walk to the car!"

And we shoppers are such a quiet and consenting bunch. It's easier and less embarrassing to just take the bag and walk off instead of making a mini-scene. Many a times (I feel), the customer can actually do without the bag, but ends up taking it because it has been automatically packed in. This is where becoming less helpful would save the planet. Do not take the initiative on this I say. Wait for the customer to ask for the bag. Make us work for it.

Then again, I don't run a supermarket.