Majid Al Futtaim to phase out single-use plastic by 2025

Majid Al Futtaim has announced the launch of its group-wide commitment to phase-out single-use plastics across its operations by 2025. Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment includes the removal of freely distributed plastic grocery bags from all Carrefour stores in 15 markets by 2025, as well as other single-use plastic items from across the company’s business units, inclusive of straws, cutlery, containers and trays.

The company will focus on promoting reusable, sustainable alternatives that drive long-term behavioural change among its customers, suppliers and partners. The pledge comes as part of the company’s move towards the creation of a circular economy and efforts to minimize its footprint on the environment, in line with its sustainability strategy ‘Dare Today, Change Tomorrow’. Speaking at the launch of the pledge, Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim – Retail, said: “No one country, company or individual alone can solve the crippling impact that plastic is having on our world.”

“Reducing our dependence on single-use plastic is only the start; we hope to create a movement amongst the partners, suppliers and customers we engage with every day to ensure collective action.” The scope of the policy includes single-use plastic items distributed to customers and does not include any on-shelf products typically sold at the company’s premises, such as garbage bags, detergent bottles, and cleaning products.

Majid Al Futtaim’s almost 300 Carrefour stores will take 800 million plastic grocery bags out of circulation each year. In 2017, Majid Al Futtaim started promoting reusable grocery bags across its markets, with this year’s sales of the eco-friendly bags increasing by 70 per cent. Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Majid Al Futtaim – Holding, said: “While we have made great progress towards reducing our footprint in recent years with the introduction of our net positive strategy, the launch of our single-use plastic policy will help shift the needle by tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges for our business and region.”

The phase-out process will also see the company roll out physical and digital campaigns to build awareness among customers to drive behavioural change. Customers of Majid Al Futtaim’s lifestyle rewards programme, SHARE, who purchase a Carrefour reusable shopping bag on November 6th or 7th will receive their money back through SHARE points. Plans are also underway to introduce an initiative where customers who shop with their reusable bags will receive even greater SHARE rewards.