This is a big step in the right direction…

If you’re looking for ways to cut down on your single-use plastic, Carrefour UAE is taking steps to do the same. The supermarket, owned by Majid Al Futtaim, has eliminated plastic carrier bags from two of its Dubai stores.

If you’re a regular shopper at either Carrefour Hypermarket at Cityland Mall or Carrefour Market at Arabian Ranches 1, remember to bring your reusable bags with you. You’ll no longer be given free single-use plastic bags in store.

Customers who forget their shopping bags, or would like to purchase new ones, can do some from Carrefour’s range. The cheapest option are recyclable paper bags, priced at 40fils each and all the proceeds will go to support UAE wildlife with the Emirates Nature-World Wildlife Fund.

However for the most sustainable alternatives include a woven plastic bag priced at Dhs2.50, a canvas bag for Dhs9.50 or the most durable option will cost Dhs10.

Philippe Peguilhan, country manager of Carrefour UAE at Majid Al Futtaim Retail told The National, “We have pledged to remove 500 million plastic grocery bags from circulation each year – an important and necessary step towards a plastic-free future, which requires a shared commitment and support from our customers.”

While the start may seem slow, it’s just the beginning of things to come. The supermarket aims to remove all single-use plastic from its stores by 2025.

Late last year, Waitrose in the UAE implemented a fee for single-use plastic bags in some of its stores. The British retailer began charging customers 25 fil per bag, in the hopes to encourage people to bring reusable carrier bags for their shopping.