Visitors to Tamimi Supermarket will notice a change this week—the store has taken a first step towards making KAUST a plastic-bag-free place.
A limited supply of reusable bags have been made available for free use by members of the KAUST community, while the store explores its options towards phasing out plastic bags entirely. Tamimi has also set up a return system for reusable bags in the form of a reusable bag bank at the main Tamimi store.
“You can take a spare bag and on your next trip you can bring it back,” said Mahmoud Tariq, who manages of both of KAUST’s Tamimi markets.
The store encourages KAUST community members to bring their own reusable bags when shopping, as the free bag offer is for a limited time only. You are also invited to donate any clean, unwanted reusable bags to the bag bank.
Tariq estimates that KAUST students, staff, faculty, families, and workers use some 5,000 to 6,000 plastic bags every day at Tamimi alone and on busy days, even more. He hopes that in getting people used to bringing reusable bags, the store — and eventually all of KAUST — will be able to put an end to the wasteful habit.
“The first stage is just introducing the concept to the community,” he said.
The initiative for a plastic-bag-free KAUST was launched this past Sunday by the 2014 Winter Enrichment Program Committee, with the support of adventurer and guest lecturer Mike Horn. The goal is to reduce KAUST’s negative environmental impact by eliminating plastic bags from campus altogether over the next few months.
Excellent initiative! Kudos to Tamimi for taking it up.
Now it’s upto the community to help this cause.
I don’t beilive this is practical.
What if somone is going dirctly from work to Tamimi directly without passing by home?
What if some one is not living at KAUST and want to go to Tamaimi to purchase somthing and get back to home or to work?
Should everyone have this bag all the times?
What if somone forget to bring the bags?
Well, someone not living at KAUST presumably has a car with them and can put the groceries in the trunk. And thus, doesn’t need a bag. For those of you who forget their bags, you can purchase a reusable one. And as you continue forgetting it and continue buying new ones, you will stop forgetting them. AND that is also why we will try to establish the reusable-bag-bank where people who have too many reusable at home, can bring their bags and leave them there for the ones who forgot their own and need to borrow one (no need to buy additional ones).
BTW: AT LEAST 7 000 workers from outside buy things at Tamimi and dispose the bags who-knows-where. So we have to take this into consideration before judging just for ourselves. By stopping the give-away-without-awerness-plastic-bag, we will drastically decrease the amount of plastic bags going to waste with any further purpose. Everyday we oppose, we loose 1000s of bags, which go directly as contaminants. Anyone who needs extra information or wants to give input, feel free to contact me: vanessa.robitzchsierra@kaust.edu.sa
We don’t really have another option to stop this plastic insanity.
Thank you!
Actually, I’ve met with 6 visitors that are here to participate in the WEP events this month and they do not have a car, nor a bike and choose to walk most places.
I think assuming they “have cars” is a little much. I do think it is a valid question, what about visitors?
I was noticing as well that the theme has been changing to pointing out how many workers are here and how they use bags. I think as a member of this community I am responsible for part of the plastic usage, we don’t need to go and blame others.
Also, great point, what about those workers? Aren’t they working for KAUST? Maybe KAUST or their companies could provide them with reusable bags.
I do think it is an important issue and something we can all work on,but advanced noticed would have been great, a big sale on reusable bags or placement of boxes (the ones Tamimi gets their items in) by the cashiers so people could reuse them would have been great as well.
Most of us like to do good things, but being forced to do them, not so much.
I also think this is a great idea but not a practical one.
Often it is stop in and grab what we need, not able to carry a bag all the time, so the plastic bags are necessary. Plus, I use them as garbage bags at home for certain garbage and they are very valuable in that way. I do use the big reuseable bags and the cold storage bags when I am doing a weekly shop on the weekends, but most of us, I am pretty sure, would only pop in to grab a few things and leave.
Dear reader, Even though you use your bags for your garbage we are using WAY to many! And it is not because of you guys are reusing them for garbage, but because we have many people who do not! AT LEAST 7 000 workers from outside buy things at Tamimi and dispose the bags who-knows-where. And we can’t make different rules for different people. So we have to take this into consideration before judging and we ca not make assumptions just based on our actions. By stopping the give-away-without-awerness-plastic-bag, we will drastically decrease the amount of plastic bags going to waste with any further purpose. Meanwhile, you will be able to buy garbage bags for a reasonable price at Tamimi. Please help us get this through! Everyday we oppose we loose 1000s of bags, which go directly as contaminants. Anyone who needs extra information or wants to give input, feel free to contact me: vanessa.robitzchsierra@kaust.edu.sa
Thanks!
going to this direction is challenging but still you need to make it more valuable to people to use thier own bags when purchasing. like give a discount or have some environment friendly bags available for sale , or have both options.
I don’t like to be forced to use a reusable bags.. it’s not available in my hand all the time if I’m coming from work or outside. at least you can provide both. so if I’m coming from home I’ll make sure to have my reusable bag with me .. if not i don’t have to be worry about how i’ll carry my stuff.
Another point about the 7000 workers .. how many of them go to Tamimi?
Plus we can aware the Tamimi cashiers to try to reduce the usage of the plastic bags.. they were giving the bags lavishly instead of collecting all things in one or two bags ..
Tamimi staff needs to pack stuff smartly in fewer bags. At times we had to ask them not use 10 bags rather put things in fewer when someone helping us at the counter. This seems to be the biggest cause of so many bags going out at the very first place.
Secondly, rather than forcing people to buy bags and not providing any disposable ones at all we need to provide incentives that could bring change.
There could be a program that rewards customers when they return those same plastic bags in good condition (that mostly are once we have transported stuff at home). Those same plastic bags can be made available at tills so that we ‘reuse’ them.
Also, if those bags need to be disposed off properly then provide a mean to do so. Most of those who are living at KAUST already doing so through the trash bins they have at home.
Who is ensuring the reusable bags are cleaned properly between uses & sanitary? Cross-contamination is a legitimate concern. Someone puts raw meat into a reusable bag and it leaks, then that bag goes back into the depository to contaminate other bags? Does Tamimi have a sanitation plan in place? I understand this concern is minimized if everyone brings their own bag every time but that won’t always be feasible. Some places in Europe and the States charge a small fee per plastic bag, such as 10 cents, as a way to cut down use but not completely eliminate the convenience for those who prefer it. I personally like the Tamimi bags because I reuse them for trash bins and other storage. Now, I will spend money on non-biodegradable trash bags… Which hardly seems better for the environment.
Dear all,
First of all, it is true that there should have been advance notice of such a campaign, which is by the way very good, by saying that I am not blaming anyone, we should not blame nor point out anyone actually, as this does not serve the cause.
But people need time to adjust to change…remember we come from different parts of the world, I personally come from a European country where (as Cira said) we are charged 10 cents (euro) to purchase a biodegradable plastic bag, the more resistant one would cost a little more…but we got adjusted to the idea…gradually! It started with one store (not in one day, there was an awareness campaign in different supports), then it became a fact in more and more shops, now it is the case almost everywhere. But the people were given many many weeks and months before adjusting to the idea. And that was in Europe! The main reasons for getting us adjusted were:
1. You will save the planet by doing your part, just as everyone else = good cause, environment reason
2. You will only be asked to spend a very small fee for the reusable bag/biodegradable bags (by the way over there they can be replaced for free- you only purchase it once= commitment from both sides, customers & shops…another reason!) = won’t impact our budget, economical reason
For the friends who have been living in the Middle East, let us admit it is not easy to ask them to apply this change that quickly.
I do agree that Tamimi staff were giving away way more plastic bags than necessary…many of us indeed were using then those plastic bags for trash; now the truth is we will still buy plastic bags for trash. Which is not so good after all…I would be happy to find a more environmental friendly solution for disposing my trash.
Step by step, we will reach the goal of getting rid of the plastic bags. But the key is to educate the minds to the change and not to change and then educate the minds. Especially if we want the change to be positive. But of course, I am used to this practice and this makes me feel active in preserving the environment.
Thanks!
I agree. When I happen to have a rucksack with me, I don’t need a plastic bag. But otherwise, I think replacing plastic bags with the biodegradable ones (usually made from cellulose) is the way to go. I would also be happy to accept a small charge for each bag (0.1-0.5 SAR or so).
I think that this initiative is a very good one and very easy to adopt. I have also gone a step further and asked at the fruit and veg counter that they put as many items in one plastic bag and then they stick all the price stickers on that one bag, this cuts down by about 4 or 5 bags each time I visit. If Tamimi had plastic bags out of site for the odd times people forgot their bag of for visitors who didn’t know about it that might solve the problem. For people who say they do not want to use a reuseable bag because it is too bulky to carry they could just fold up any existing plastic bag they have and use that for small amounts of shopping.
Dear All,
Yes, I agree Tamimi plastic bags are useful for disposing domestic trash – particularly, organic waste. As someone said during this discussion, if they are totally stopped, one may still need to buy plastic bags for this purpose (e.g., disposal of organic waste).
Also, it will be really helpful if someone could suggest a way to dispose organic waste without using plastic bags.
The idea that we are charged a small fee for plastic bags is good. This I think will effectively reduce usage.
Thank you.
I cannot believe the amount of thought and effort people are going to in response to this initiative. There are so many other important issues here in KAUST that are MORE important or JUST AS important and yet we do not see major discussions like this in a public venue such as THE LENS. Animal cruelty for one thing. Any animal abuse should be reported immediately, and a method be put in place to deter the ones who dish out the abuse. Perhaps a fine – as is the case in other countries. Bicycle safety awareness for children, and parents ensuring children have lights fitted to their bikes. Bicycle riders ignoring red lights as if the rules do not apply to them. Bicycle hand signals being a strict must for all riders. I can think of others, but my main point is that the response to this concern of plastic bags is amazing. We need to raise such awareness for other concerns as well and let us hope we can achieve the same interest.
I agree with Joanne, plastic bags are one of the least of our concerns here (especially as the ones Tamimi gives out are biodegradable – I didn’t realise this – as AbdulAziz AlFARAJ pointed out in his comment), and the road safety items (for example) that she mentioned are far more important. There are also small children being transported around on scooters, as well as in cars but without seatbelts, often hanging out the windows – in even a minor traffic incident, these children could easily be severely injured or killed. Plastic bags must not become a distraction from more urgent matters.
I think this is a fantastic idea especially as one of KAUST’s four thrusts is environment. Supermarkets in Europe have successfully implement a ‘no plastic bag’ policy and for the small shops locate in the heart of the cities they charge a fee for the use of a plastic bag.
Maybe Tamimi should consider charging those who forget their bags or claim that it is inconvenient to carry one around all the time (charge: SR5 per bag). This charge will be a penalty so you do not forget the next time or you could just become a little creative with how you carry your shopping home.
Alternatively, there are reusable shopping bag designs out there that allows for you to carry a shopping bag in your pocket or handbag as they fold into very small shapes. Maybe KAUST/Tamimi could invest in these types of bags.
I think this is a fantastic initiative and hope that Tamimi does not crack under the pressure of those who do not see the benefit or are adverse to change.
I am certainly not suggesting there is no value in this endeavor. My point is that the change does not have to be “all or nothing.” There is something to be said for establishing stakeholder buy-in versus springing a complete change on a community of thousands, when you want the change to be well-received. Additionally, there are other impacts to be considered. If tamimi bags are to be eliminated entirely, I challenge Tamimi to stock biodegradable trash bags! Many of us who already recycle our bags by using them for household waste bins must now use non-biodegradable, plastic trashbags. In effect, this fuels a separate environmental concern. Hundreds or even thousands of people on campus using plastic trash bags instead of recycling Tamimi bags means we haven’t really done as well for the environment as we would like to believe, we are just trading issues. That said, and as previously mentioned, I would be content to pay a small fee for the disposable bags when I shop, and I see this as the middle ground between “all or nothing.” It’s not a matter of “cracking under pressure” but of working with all stakeholders involved to find an agreeable solution.
I believe this change is a good saving for Tamimi. Tamimi bags are biodegradable bags as written on the bags themselves. As such it is not logical even to have such a change as there is no reason for it.
Thanks for pointing this out! Then those should definitely be kept. It might still be good to reduce the number of bags used, however, so why not introduce a small surcharge for each bag (up to 0.5 SAR/bag would be reasonable in my view). The ideal would be if (a portion) of the income from those bags could be channeled to other efforts in reducing the impact on the environment from the campus.
Thanks for pointing that out AbdulAziz, I have never noticed it before, even though it is clearly written on the bags.
Actually, I was reusing those bags for my trash, I am glad I have never used the real plastic bags that are sold, as most of them are not biodegradable.
Dear All, thank you for your comments and feedback.
We have requested a reply/update about his initiative from the WEP team. Please expect a reply from them soon.