In Japan, to combat the problem of marine plastic waste and global warming, plastic bags to carry home products purchased at supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. became subject to a fee starting July 1, 2020.
The fee is applied to plastic shopping bags with handles that are used to carry purchased items. However, since the purpose of the system is to curb the excessive use of plastic shopping bags, some businesses also charge for paper bags that fall outside of this system. Each company sets its own price for these plastic bags, so the price varies from company to company. Even within the same chain, each store may respond differently.
It is a good idea to carry your own bags with you as much as possible to reduce the amount of garbage you produce.
