Japanese retailers divided on plan for mandatory plastic bag fees

Govt wants to cut plastic bag use by 25%, but small stores worry about costs

Seven-Eleven Japan will not have to charge customers for plastic bags at its 21,000-plus stores as they use enough bioplastic materials to qualify for exemption. © Reuters

TAKEFUMI KAWAGUCHI, Nikkei staff writer

November 18, 2019 11:42 JST

TOKYO -- Japan’s plan to introduce mandatory fees on plastic shopping bags from July 2020 is creating a rift in the country’s retail industry. The details of the proposal risk putting small businesses at a disadvantage and complicating its implementation.

The current proposal exempts bags with smaller environmental impacts from the additional charges. Convenience stores welcome the exceptions, but supermarkets and department stores oppose them.