In an effort to reduce plastic waste, the economy ministry, among other entities, have launched a feasibility test aimed at reducing plastic bag usage at convenience stores in government buildings.
Supermarkets, convenience chain stores and other retailers plan to start charging fees for plastic bags from July. The government, prior to July, will introduce the fees at some convenience stores within its own buildings from late February.
A FamilyMart store in the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry building will not offer plastic bags to shoppers, but instead, only provide them to those who request bags by presenting a special card, which is located at the cashier.
The card shows an image of garbage washed ashore to make shoppers more aware of marine garbage and reduce the use of plastic bags.
The test, according to the ministry, adopts the nudge theory in behavioral economics, which indirectly guides shoppers and others to make desirable decisions for society.
The same test also started at convenience stores in the buildings of the Foreign Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Japan Patent Office.
A Lawson store in the Foreign Ministry only distributed plastic bags to customers who presented a card reading "More than 60 countries adopt regulations on plastic bags."
Test results will be examined after different types of cards are used at each convenience store for three weeks.
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