With over 1 million plastic bags being used every minute, one market decided to raise awareness of the problem by giving out embarrassing plastic bags. East West Market, in Vancouver, BC, has taken a stand against single-use plastic.
The market charges consumers five cents per plastic bag with slogans like 'Into the Weird Adult Video Emporium,' 'Dr. Toeus' War Ointment Wholesale,' and 'The Colon Care Co-Op." These bags are meant to encourage shoppers to bring a reusable bag rather than take a plastic one. “So many people own reusable bags but forget to bring them. We want to help customers remember their reusable bags in a way that will really stick with them,” said David Lee Kwen, East West’s owner.
This clever campaign has already gained international attention for its comedic strategy of giving out embarrassing plastic bags.
Image Credit: East West Market
What's Driving This Trend
- Anti-plastic Messaging
- Using humor and satire to raise awareness on the issue of single-use plastic.
- Reusable Bag Promotion
- Encouraging the use of reusable bags through interesting and attention-grabbing tactics.
- Eco-friendly Market Positioning
- Focusing on environmentally-conscious practices to attract customers.
Who This Affects Most
- Retail Industry
- Promoting reusable bags and reducing single-use plastic to create an eco-friendly brand image and attract conscientious customers.
- Advertising Industry
- Developing innovative and unconventional campaigns that draw attention to important issues and inspire action.
- Hospitality Industry
- Partnering with brands that prioritize sustainability and eco-consciousness to appeal to environmentally-conscious guests.
