In late 2024, the Lagos State government announced plans to enforce a ban on single-use plastics starting January 1, 2025. Major retailers, including ShopRite, responded by urging customers to bring reusable bags, aligning with the state?s environmental objectives. However, discrepancies have arisen as ShopRite now offers nylon bags for sale, raising questions about the retailer?s commitment to sustainability.

Of note is that when the state government announced that it will start to enforce the ban on single use plastic as from January 1, many residents started bracing up for the new normal.

It was, therefore, no surprise that Shoprite, a major retail outlet, displayed messages within its stores announcing that from January 1, customers should come to shop with their re-useable bags. There were at least three difference banners with same message but slightly different contents that were displayed in one of its stores at the Festival Mall.

As part of its message driving the new directive, the company said it supports Lagos State government?s ban on single use plastic, maintaining that it would no longer provide single use plastics in its stores. It listed the single use plastics that would be discontinued with to include plastic straws, nylon bags, plastic cutlery and Styrofoam packs.

?We encourage you to bring a reuseable bag on your shopping trips or buy one of our eco-friendly bags for a token. Let?s reduce plastic waste and protect our environment.?

The Guardian observed that the company complied with the state government directive on the ban of single use plastic for about two to three weeks, during which it did not offer nylon bags to customers. However, after that initial compliance, Shoprite started offering nylon bags to customers at a fee, N150 per nylon bag.

Some customers perceive this practice as contradictory, questioning the retailer?s commitment to environmental sustainability. They feel that selling nylon bags undermines the purpose of the displayed notices and may lead to confusion about the store?s policies.

Commenting, a customer, Mike Ikenwa, said the action of the management of Shoprite show inconsistency, which raises concerns about compliance with environmental regulations and the effectiveness of waste reduction initiatives.

He also feels it undermines the state?s efforts to promote sustainable practices among retailers and consumers. He called on the government to ensure stricter enforcement of the ban through ensuring that all retailers adhere to the guidelines it set.

Also commenting, Glory Adesokan said Shoprite selling to customers with displayed notices in its outlets is nothing but exploitation considering the nylon bags were offered free before now.

?It does not make sense. Shoppers have started bringing reusable bags to outlets before it started re-offering nylon bags to customers at a fee, which is more like exploiting the process. The bagco bag that was offered for sale initially when Shoprite started complying with government?s directive on ban on single use plastic was a better option as that can be re-used.

?It is surprising that when customers protest that they are not supposed to pay for the nylon bags, the cashiers ironically usually point the customers to the notice banning single use plastic that is being offered for sale to them.?

When the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, was contacted on the observation and residents complaint, he claimed the idea to charge for a recyclable polythene bags is to discourage people from discarding the bags and bringing them to the store every time they are coming for shopping. He maintained that it is a global practice sir.

When he was told what was being offered for sale to shoppers was not recyclable, he said: ?What they are offering, though I have not seen it, should be the recyclable bags, promising to work immediately on the information provided.

?We shall do the needful immediately.? When The Guardian returned to one of the Shoprite outlets at Festival Mall on Friday morning, cashiers were still offering nylon bags to shoppers at a fee. (The Guardian)

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