LIFE> Odds and Ends
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LIFE> Odds and Ends
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Tote fashion goes green
By Chen Nan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-11 09:47  A woman goes shopping with a green bag in Beijing. The "environmentally-friendly" shopping bags are popping up everywhere in Beijing - from small shops to luxurious shopping malls. "I'm not green, but I could be," reads one. Others have similar messages printed on them, "My Bag", "Use Me and Re-use Me". Since the Chinese government issued its June 1 ban on free plastic bag handouts, retailers in China have found themselves in the midst of a "green" phenomenon. They're anxious to turn fashion-conscious customers into eco-aware shoppers. Under the new regulations, free plastic bags are banned and shopkeepers are required to charge shoppers for plastic bags. The prices vary, but range from 0.2 yuan ($0.03) to 1 yuan ($0.14) depending on the size of the bag. But, a plain bag is far from satisfactory for the China's fashion-conscious - and this mindset is pushing the country towards a "green revolution" in the closets. "It is cool to carry a simple colored eco bag to go with my Levi's jeans and sneakers," says 21-year-old Huang Min. "It is a direct way to contribute to environmental protection. And, it is a popular vision for saving the planet." |
