Bangkok

As many of you know a student of mine and I had a meeting with 7-11. It was very positive and we gave a plan of things to do to reduce plastic bags across the 5400 7-11 stores in Thailand. I recently got this response from them. Keep in mind this is only the start and a way of getting Thai’s to think about this subject more before taking more aggressive measures.

Dear Kerry,

Thank you for your email. We have just returned to work in Silom on Monday. I am pleased to inform you that we have instructed our store staff to ask customers if they would like plastic bags on purchase of 1-2 items. We don’t expect them to ask everytime, but we have kept tab of how many plastic bags (2 small sizes) we can reduce this way. For the past 2 weeks, the numbers of plastic bags reduced were on the average of 19 bags / store / day. The more our store staff can internalize the benefits of plastic bags reduction, the more naturally they can contribute in this direction. Training is important here to create consciousness. This is another area that I am looking into.
We also make a short video clip to encourage people to reduce the use of plastic bags. It will be run on the store’s point of purchase screen. Due to the recent situations in Rajaprasong that kept us away from headquarter in Silom, I think we will be able to finish the clip and display it on screen in the next week or two.

Also, we currently work with the marketing team on member’s value points for those who bring their own cloth bags, as well as how to promote it to raise consumer awareness. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.
Let’s keep in touch.

Cheers,

XXXXX

May 8th, 2010, I met with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment about reducing plastic bag use in Thailand. May 11th, I met with 7-11. I expected I was going in to convince them about this problem and the need to take action, but it was just the opposite. One thing was clear, both groups want to see a REAL solution to the plastic bag problem. From April 22 – June 5, the government worked out an agreement (MoU) with 17 businesses to implement their own plan. I would like to see each company continue their efforts even after June 5. In fact, Carrotmob will challenge them to strengthen their efforts to focus on solutions that have a REAL impact.

Government wants to put in more measures, business want too as well. Both groups seem to have the same concern… US (the customer). They think most people are not ready and will not be happy about it. Well, on one level, they are probably right. I’m sure some people will complain, I mean, when was the last time anything significant changed and no one complained. That’s expected, but that’s no reason not to do anything. Remember the anti-smoking law that was passed around the world and a few years ago Thailand did the same. No smoking in bars and restaurants! Bars said customers won’t like it and business will suffer. Well, sure enough, people complained in the beginning and then everyone realized this is actually better and the complaining stops. In fact, some businesses said it was even better as more non-smokers were going out. I am very confident this will happen with plastic bags too.

So if ‘consumers not being ready’ is the big concern, we really need to step up and show government and business alike that there is a lot of support for this more. When I showed them our Facebook page with over 8000 supporters in Thailand they were impressed.  They also really like the Carrotmob approach and what we were able to do at Villa to help Villa switch. Therefore, it might seem strange, but really the more people we can get on the site supporting this, the more it helps government and business to move forward. Of course, please keep this Facebook site for people living in Thailand or have some connection with Thailand. I strongly feel schools and universities are the key to the success of reducing plastic bags, so if you have connections there, please do what you can to get supporters on the Facebook page.

I will continue to meet with government and business.  There is a big Carrotmob project being planned right now (stay tuned for details soon).  However, please check out the presentation to 7-11.  What would you add?

7-11 Presentation. Click the play button and let it load.

Someone told me today that they watched something about Carrotmob on CNN. I didn’t see it, but just found it. Bangkok even gets mentioned.

After hearing about recent announcements from the environment minister, I think it is time we get back to action with Carrotmob. Sorry, i’ve been MIA for a while. I had Earth Week to plan. However this is an opportunity that can’t be missed.

I think we can put all 17 malls in a competition and whoever comes out with best results wins and gets the mob to show up in support. I am trying to contact the minister now. Please help if you have a way to contact him.

Here is the recent news:
Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti and the retailers launched the campaign at Chatuchak Park on Thursday called “45 Days to Reduce Plastic Bag Usage and Alleviate Global Warming”.

Many shopping centres are offering dis-counts or points to customers who cooper-ate.

Monthacha Sudamphan, vice president of corporate affairs at Tesco Lotus, said the hypermarket had set up a scheme called “Green Bag Green Point” that rewards people who bring a shopping bag from home instead of plastic bags from the store with bonus points.

Busaba Chirathiwat, senior vice president for corporate communications at Central Retail Corp, said Central department stores would give extra points or a 5-10-per-cent discount to customers who decline to use plastic bags or bring their own shopping bags on the 15-17th day of each month.

All employees of the company’s affiliates would also be encouraged to participate in the campaign as well as energy-saving meas-ures at their workplaces.

Ruedee Euachongprasit, director for cor-porate affairs at Big C Supercentre, said the chain is promoting the use of a fashionable shoulder bag and is planning other activities to raise public awareness about environmen-tal conservation.

Did Bangkok Carrotmob get enough support to ban plastic bags at Villa supermarket?

Does the Carrotmob method work?    You be the judge.

Yesterday, on Feb 20th the long awaited V-Day took place. This was the day Villa (Nichada) decided to ban plastic bags for good. Customers are now encouraged to bring their own bags or buy a reusable bag at the store. The goal of Carrotmob is to show business that customers will support this decision. Carrotmob’s goal was to have at least 500 people attend the event. If you were there you saw all the booths from sponsors, Green Panthers (student eco group), Carrotmob; live bands; celebrities and more. The event was lively and crowded. The out-of-season downpour of rain didn’t help, but the support was still strong.

Support came from strangers driving all the way in from downtown Bangkok. One lady took 90+ minutes to get there to make her point. Another was visiting from China to see friends, but made and effort to come out to support. As well, the Nichada Thani community were there in large numbers. This is important since in the long run they are the ones shopping at Villa on a more permanent basis.

Okay, so let’s get down to it. Was it a success? Here are the numbers.

We wanted at least 500 supporters. Instead we got 1397 shoppers! The owner was very happy and said he wanted to do this for about 15 year, but couldn’t get the support to do it, but we have found a way. He wants to meet again soon to see how to expand this. 7-11 VIP came out to support and also said they are looking at what they can do. I hope to meet with them soon too. Other businesses were intrigued by Carrotmob and how it can affect change so things might develop there too.

Asian Oasis donated bags for Carrotmob to sell and also a raffle prize (cruise on the Mehkala or a weekend at Lisu Lodge in Chiang Mai). The winner of the prize is Linda Kennan.

Big thank you to all of the performers, Dale for taking care of the music and performers, June from Villa for organizing V-Day, owners of Villa for being very supportive of this move and so easy to work with, Bettina and Sharka for being caring parents who wanted to make this happen.  Finally, thank you to all who showed up to make the Carrotmob concept work.  Villa has just become the first store to convert from using to plastic shopping bags to banning it.

Whao, i’m excited!

Actually it is a map to International School Bangkok (ISB).  Villa is just 50-100m to the left of ISB, just past the Starbucks.  Find ISB, go  left and you can’t miss it. See you there.

Trying to figure out what this is all about?  I can’t explain it any better than this. I just presented to 500 people at my school.  This should explain it all, so if your friends don’t understand… you know where to send them.  It’s good for all ages too.

The following celebrities will be at V-day.  Come meet them and customize your own bag with them.

Vipavee Asawanon วิภาวี อัศวนนท์

Wantita Liwchaloemwong วันฑิตา ลิ่วเฉลิมวงศ์

Paulleen Teng พอลลีน เต็ง

Wanporn Posayanon วรรณพร โปษยานนท์

Sopit Poosanakhom โสพิศ ภูสนาคม