FairPrice Bring Your Own Bag

From Monday, 3 July 2023, large supermarket operators will be required to charge at least 5 cents per disposable carrier bag provided to customers for purchases at their physical stores. This is to encourage shoppers to take fewer disposable carrier bags or use reusable bags.

We will implement a disposable carrier bag charge across all our store formats.

NTUC FairPrice has implemented a per-transaction charge at selected supermarkets, Cheers and FairPrice Xpress stores since 2019. From 3 July 2023, in line with the Resource Sustainability Act by NEA, we will implement a 5 cents charge per bag across all our store formats.

Charging per bag is fairer for all customers as the amount you pay is based on the number of bags required.

Disposable carrier bags (those with handles/holes for handles), regardless of material, are chargeable.

While alternative packaging materials like biodegradable materials may work for other countries, Singapore’s current waste management infrastructure does not provide the right conditions for biodegradable materials to degrade – all waste is incinerated and transferred to Pulau Semakau for landfill. In particular, oxo-biodegradables may even complicate our recycling process when it is mixed with conventional plastics.

A life-cycle assessment study was commissioned by the National Environment Agency for Singapore’s context in 2017. The study evaluated the environmental footprint of various alternative materials including paper and biodegradables, and concluded that there is significant impact on land, water, energy and resource usage to produce these materials. Instead of switching to alternative materials, NTUC FairPrice is aligned with the Government’s approach to reduce excessive usage where possible. We will also continue to work closely with our business partners to source for suitable sustainable packaging.

At FairPrice Group, we have embarked on various initiatives to promote and improve our sustainability agenda. For more than a decade, we have been advocating the use of less plastic bags through our Green Rewards Scheme, as well as through the introduction of our “No Plastic Bag” initiative in 2019. We are pleased that these efforts have amounted to 57 million plastic bags saved in 2022. 

Since 2021, we have exercised extended producer responsibility to collect e-waste and continued to support national efforts such as NEA’s Say Yes to Waste Less campaign to encourage consumers to bring their own bags/containers, as well as to reduce food waste.  We also implemented the FairPrice-CSR Food Waste Reduction Framework, which diverts our unsold groceries to food charities to benefit those in need. 

Our supermarkets carry a wide range of paper products that are sustainably certified by organisations such as the Forest Stewardship Council. You can also find sustainable seafood that is accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council in our stores. For more information on our  sustainability programmes, refer to our published Sustainability Reports at https://www.fairpricegroup.com.sg/media-and-reports/reports/.

All proceeds will be donated towards environmental and community causes.

All customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable shopping bag, a backpack or a shopping trolley. Reusable bags are also available for sale, should you forget to bring one with you.

Yes, each disposable carrier bag will be charged at 5 cents.

Yes, each disposable carrier bag that you require will be charged at 5 cents. 

If you are using Self-Checkout, please remember to scan the barcode for each disposable carrier bag that you require.

If you brought your own reusable bag and would like to use it at Self-Checkout, please remember to indicate that you have ‘brought your own bag’. 

If you require assistance, please approach our staff. 

If you are using Scan & Go, please remember to add the disposable carrier bag to your cart before making payment. 

If you require assistance, please approach our staff.

Yes. As your purchases will be bagged for the delivery, each disposable carrier bag used will be charged at 5 cents.

No, the mandatory charge will not apply to online deliveries.

You can consider purchasing a reusable bag, or purchase additional disposable carrier bags at 5 cents each.

No Linkpoints will be awarded for payment of the disposable carrier bags.

No, the purchase of disposable carrier bags are not applicable for discounts.

For queries or feedback related to the disposable carrier bag charge policy, you may reach out to the National Environment Agency electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
For queries or feedback related to NTUC FairPrice, please reach out to https://www.fairprice.com.sg/help/feedback-general