Lagos consumers weigh choices as single-use plastic ban makes purchasing luggage a paid selection 

Buyers visiting ShopRite supermarkets throughout Lagos within the first week of January 2025 witnessed a major change the retail chain not supplied purchasing luggage at no cost however as an alternative offered them to clients.

For N500, clients may buy a reusable bag or convey their very own. Weeks later, as of February 2025, this initiative has gained widespread adoption throughout main grocery store chains in Lagos.

At Ebeano Grocery store in Ikeja GRA, Natalia Zibo skilled this variation firsthand when she went purchasing in early February.

“I acquired to the checkout counter and realized I needed to pay N300 for a smaller grocery bag and N500 for a much bigger one. It was shocking at first, however I observed the baggage had been a lot stronger than earlier than,” she instructed Nairametrics.

She now carries a reusable bag at any time when she retailers from house however admitted, “If I’m coming from elsewhere, I simply pay for it. It’s not an enormous deal.”

Nonetheless, not everybody was prepared to pay for purchasing luggage. On the similar grocery store, some clients opted to push their trolleys straight to their automobiles as an alternative.

One such shopper, Mrs. Aramide, had simply spent over N65,000 purchasing not simply on groceries however different home items as properly—but refused to purchase a bag. “Why ought to I pay further when most of what I purchased is already wrapped in nylon? I carried some by hand and stacked the remaining in my automotive. All of it results in the trash the identical manner!” she argued.

Shopper reactions to the change 

Past Miss Zibo and Aramide’s experiences, a number of different consumers have expressed various opinions in regards to the coverage shift. Talking to Nairametrics, Mr. Nathan Sunday, who shopped at Justrite round Akowonjo, recounted his frustration.

“I picked snacks and provides for my youngsters, and at checkout, I used to be shocked that I wasn’t given a bag. Once I requested, the cashier stated it was to encourage reuse. I had no selection however to pay, however actually, it appears like we’re being pressured to purchase one thing that was free.” 

Equally, Ekemini Ufot, who purchased bread from Bokku Mart round Oweni Bus Cease, Oshodi, stated the expertise made her rethink how she retailers.

“I purchased a grocery bag for N500 simply to hold two loaves of bread. Since then, I all the time convey my very own bag to keep away from the additional cost,” she stated. 

Then again, Eruke Obalor, a consumer at Bokku Mart in Gbagada, welcomed the change.

“I studied overseas for my undergraduate diploma in a developed nation the place this apply is widespread,” she stated.

Whereas she acknowledged that the baggage had been designed to be stronger and reusable, she admitted,

“To be sincere, I don’t all the time preserve them. I typically find yourself shopping for a brand new one every time as a result of I dislike having them litter my home.” 

Two younger males at Bokku Mart, Oshodi, shared a distinct perspective.

“We don’t thoughts paying for the baggage as a result of we are able to’t preserve them anyway,” one among them stated.  

“It doesn’t cease the waste downside as a result of even the brand new ones will finally be thrown away.” 

Observations at Ebeano Grocery store in Ikeja GRA on a Saturday morning confirmed that many patrons now convey their very own grocery luggage. Nonetheless, in different components of Lagos, corresponding to In the past Palace Manner and supermarkets round Storage Ikorodu, clients nonetheless obtain free luggage after they make purchases.

In the meantime, many small nook retailers proceed to supply free nylons, although some now insist that clients carry smaller purchases with out luggage.

Supermarkets defend the initiative 

Analysis from the social media pages of main supermarkets in Lagos highlights their causes for implementing the sale of purchasing luggage.

Chains like Spar, Justrite, Shoprite, Bokku Mart, and Ebeano Grocery store argue that the brand new luggage are stronger, reusable, and assist scale back plastic waste.

ShopRite has gone additional by eliminating nylon luggage solely in favour of non-nylon alternate options.

In a publish on X (previously Twitter), Spar emphasised that the baggage are designed for a number of makes use of, making them extra dependable than the earlier free ones.

The grocery store inspired clients to convey their very own luggage or reuse the brand new ones, including that this shift was geared toward “minimizing plastic waste” and selling a extra eco-friendly purchasing tradition. “Each reuse helps scale back plastic consumption,” the publish said.

A cashier at one of many supermarkets Nairametrics visited, who requested anonymity, revealed that some shops discreetly issue the price of purchasing luggage into product costs, creating the phantasm that they’re free.

She added that at her grocery store, clients who select to not buy a bag are generally provided empty cartons, corresponding to these from beverage or on the spot noodle packaging, instead for carrying their gadgets.

Public well being professional weighs in 

Dr. Doyin Odubanjo, Govt Secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Science, sees the initiative as a step in the correct course.

“That is already being completed in different components of the world, and it has the potential to vary client conduct in the direction of sustainability,” he instructed Nairametrics. 

Nonetheless, he acknowledged issues that the purchasing luggage being offered are nonetheless plastic and will contribute to the identical waste issues if disposed of indiscriminately. Whereas some may argue for alternate options like paper luggage, he famous that they don’t seem to be all the time sensible.

“Paper luggage tear simply, particularly in our local weather, and may not be a viable choice for each shopper,” he defined. 

Regardless of this, he believes the coverage will assist shift client habits over time by encouraging folks to reuse their luggage as an alternative of treating them as disposable.

“It’s about altering conduct. If folks get used to bringing their luggage alongside, we’ll see a gradual discount in plastic waste,” he stated.  

To make the transition smoother, he recommended a phased strategy.

“The federal government may permit supermarkets to promote these luggage at a minimal worth for a couple of yr, then step by step encourage worth will increase to push extra folks towards reusable choices,” he recommended. 

Nonetheless, he harassed that enforcement alone wouldn’t be sufficient.

“Past enforcement, consciousness is essential. The federal government should do extra to coach folks on the risks of plastic waste and why this coverage advantages everybody,” he added. 

Lagos State Authorities’s place on single-use plastics 

The Lagos State Authorities banned single-use plastics and styrofoam in January 2024, citing their contribution to blocked drainages, environmental air pollution, and well being hazards. This ban was backed by the Nationwide Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Management) Regulation 2009 and the 2017 Lagos State Environmental Administration Safety Legislation.

Regardless of enforcement efforts by companies corresponding to LAWMA and KAI, compliance remained restricted, prompting the federal government to concern a ultimate discover in October 2024 that full enforcement would start in January 2025.

As a part of these efforts, Lagos State just lately revealed plans to associate with Lafarge to repurpose pure water sachets utilizing the corporate’s factories.

Commissioner for the Atmosphere and Water Assets, Tokunbo Wahab, additionally clarified that whereas the federal government is proscribing plastics beneath 40 microns resulting from their dangerous environmental impression, it’s not banning pure water itself.

With supermarkets now taking steps to align with the coverage, the broader impression of those efforts stays to be seen.

Outlook 

• Whereas main supermarkets in Lagos now cost for purchasing luggage, many smaller shops nonetheless present them at no cost, leaving consumers to weigh their choices. Some have tailored by bringing reusable luggage, whereas others see it as an pointless value.
• Regardless of claims that the paid luggage are stronger and eco-friendly, issues persist since they’re nonetheless plastic. Some supermarkets discreetly issue bag prices into product costs, whereas others provide empty cartons as alternate options.
• With Lagos implementing its single-use plastic ban, the long-term impression stays unsure. Specialists stress that public consciousness and incentives are key to driving actual change.