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Sharjah: Cooperative outlets in the emirate have announced that they will introduce biodegradable plastic bags.
The positive move came as Gulf News continues its campaign against plastic bags.
"It is the first time that environmentally-friendly plastic shopping bags will be introduced in the UAE retail market," said Mohammad Ahmad Ameen, General Secretary of the Sharjah Cooperative Society.
He said the new bags differ from the current plastic bags because they biodegrade at a rate between four and nine months.
The plastic bags commonly used take around 1,000 years to biodegrade.
Ameen said the new bags are the first of their kind in the country, as they disintegrate into nothing more than carbon dioxide and water, and do not leave residues or petroleum polymers in the soil.
"They have been proven to be environmentally safe and are naturally recycled and are able to return to nature in the form of carbon dioxide and water," said Ameen, adding that it cuts down the environmental damage caused by plastic products.
Gulf News has been campaigning against the use of plastic bags and asking shoppers, shops, and private and public sector organisations to say 'No to Plastic Bags'. The response has been very positive with increasing number of people supporting the campaign.
"We support the Gulf News campaign against plastic bags every step of the way because it is important to protect the environment for the sake of our children and our country," said Ameen.
The Sharjah Cooperative uses about 24 million shopping bags every year.
A factory based in Fujairah, Al Fujairah Plastic Factory, has agreed to supply the bags after carrying out studies.
Khalid Al Ka'abi, chief executive of Al Fujairah Plastic Factory, said the factory uses British technology in producing the environmentally-friendly biodegradable bags.
"The factory's product has passed all tests to ensure its positive effect on the environment, as compared to other products in the market," said Ameen.
He stressed that the move is within the framework of the cooperative's keenness to participate in the efforts of the government of Sharjah to protect the environment.
The price difference between the old and new bags has been covered by the cooperative's marketing budget, and Ameen assured consumers that they will not have to pay any additional costs for the bag.
He said that consumers will not be able to differentiate between the new and old bags as they have the same texture, and the only difference lies in its composition.
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