Change The Way You Shop With These Eco Bags

Its almost a year since typhoon Ondoy (Tropical Storm Ketsana) submerged Metro Manila and Rizal in chest deep  floods.   It was the worst flood in Philippine history as the amount of the rainfall dumped on September 25, 2009 surpassed the 1967 record even exceeding Typhoon Katrina in the U.S.

The major flooding that happened in Metro Manila and Rizal caused by Ondoy was unexpected. But we know what caused this flooding, garbage, particularly of plastic wastes, tons and tons of it too.

Plastic wastes, particularly shopping bags,  clogged drainage systems, they were hanging on walls,  electric cables and post, and were scattered on the pavement and roofs after the flood water subsided.  Plastic bags were there during Ondoy relief operations too.

I must admit, I am a plastic bag dependent.  It is difficult for me not to use plastic shopping bags especially when I do my grocery shopping.  I haven’t imbibed yet the habit of keeping a reusable shopping bag handy so in case I do a quick trip to the grocery I can refuse the plastic shopping bags.

However, if the store I’ll do my shopping hand me a shopping bag as good as these SM Eco Bags, I might kick off the habit of being a plastic bag dependent.

I’ve seen these Eco Bags scattered on SM malls and I believe they have four different designs and colors that represents each element.  Flow represents the element Water, Renew for Earth, Breathe for Air and Spark for Fire.

Each bag is sold for Php35.00 at any SM Supermalls nationwide.  Each shoppers who uses the eco bags will get rewarded with points in their SM Advantage card.  Check SM Eco Bag Facebook Page for more information.

Creating such eco bags will be useful once the House Bill 127 gets passed as a law, and hopefully soon.   HB 127 will impose excise tax on supermarkets, service stations, stores and or sales outlets who uses plastic bags in each transaction. The bill was created to minimize plastic waste in the country and the funds that will be collected from this will be used for the environmental protection support fund.

Isn’t this a good idea? Happy shopping!

Stay gorgeous everyone!