Beginning July 1, three major convenience store chains will charge 3 yen for a plastic shopping bag, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The government is requiring all retailers to charge for plastic bags beginning in July. The convenience stores plan to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags, in the hope of reducing damage to the environment.
Seven-Eleven Japan Co. will charge 3 yen for small, medium and large bags, as well as those meant for bento box lunches. Extra large bags will cost 5 yen. All the various types will contain 30% biomass-derived material.
Lawson Inc. will also have three different types of bags containing 30% biomass material, all costing 3 yen. FamilyMart Co. likewise plans on charging 3 yen.
The government has exempted bags containing at least 25% biomass material from a mandatory fee, since biomass has a smaller environmental impact than regular plastic, but the three convenience store companies will charge customers anyway, in the hope of reducing the use of plastic bags.
Major retailer Aeon Co. and leading drugstores have been charging for plastic shopping bags since April.
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