Since July 2006, the Urban Community (CDA) and Echo-Mer have led the 'A plastic bag? NO THANKS!' campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags and encourage citizens to buy more responsibly. Initial results of the operation.
n As a decision-maker in the field of urban ecology, La Rochelle’s CDA has always been proud to set an example. For many years we have been committed to alternative modes of development that are less costly in environmental terms.
The Urban Community of La Rochelle is known across Europe for its innovations in clean transport; sustainable development is an integral part of the CDA’s action in all of its spheres of responsibility.
Since July 2006, the Urban Community* has led the 'A plastic bag? NO THANKS!' campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags and encourage citizens to be more responsible shoppers. The project fits hand in glove with a wider commitment to cut waste production at the source.
This is crucial for the future of our planet since 15 billion plastic bags are produced in France each year! Did you known that the plastic bag you use for 20 minutes takes just one second to make but 400 years to disappear? In France, 500 plastic bags are put into circulation each second.
The Urban Community commissioned the Echo-Mer Association to take charge of the 'A plastic bag? NO THANKS!' project for an initial 21-month period. This first phase came to an end in late February 2008 and a report was drawn up to assess the results of the operation.
A trial run was carried out in three test communities: La Rochelle, Aytré and Châtelaillon-Plage, accounting for a total population of approximately 93,000. Awareness programmes were implemented in schools, at social centres and in markets. An exhibit, posters, radio announcements, theatre skits and other actions were organised to get the campaign's message across in the area.
Two surveys of 307 citizens and 265 merchants, carried out in the urban community between 15 January and 15 February 2008, provide an initial view of the project's success:
Eighty percent of the merchants estimated that they distributed as much as 50% fewer plastic bags in recent months. Over 60% said they found alternative solutions to plastic bags in their shops (paper, biodegradable or cloth bags) and one quarter of this group commented that they were encouraged to do so by the Urban Community of La Rochelle and Echo-Mer. As for those merchants who had not yet taken specific measures to reduce plastic bag distribution, 40% plan to do so in the near future.
Two-thirds of the merchants polled said fewer consumers even ask for plastic bags, a trend that was confirmed by the citizen survey.
Over 90% of citizens said they consumed as few plastic bags as possible. Of that group, a third felt that campaign led by the Urban Community and Echo-Mer sparked this change in behaviour and over half now bring along their own bag when shopping.
Given these encouraging results, the CDA plans to pursue the 'A plastic bag? NO THANKS!' campaign, reaching out to the entire urban community and organising more specific actions in La Pallice’s large marketplace, in La Rochelle and elsewhere.
*In cooperation with Echo-Mer, the association commissioned to follow the operation, and with the La Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Trade Chamber and the Chamber of Agriculture.
