PARKnSHOP 'Earth Baby' leads new anti-plastic bags campaign

6 million bags saved in four months – new effort targets double that number for 2006

Hong Kong (23 February 2006)

PARKnSHOP is pleased to announce today the launch of a new 'green' initiative encouraging shoppers to 'Say No to Plastic Bags'.

The campaign builds on the huge success of our 'Don't Drown the Earth' programme last year, and capitalise on growing consumer awareness of environmental pollution.

The 'Say No to Plastic Bags' campaign underlines PARKnSHOP's commitment to work alongside the Hong Kong Government on green issues, with shared determination to improve the health of the local environment.

PARKnSHOP enjoys a close working relationship with the Environmental Protection Department and will continue to liaise with the Government to find suitable ways of reducing the pollution caused by plastic shopping bags.

PARKnSHOP's 'Don't Drown the Earth' campaign to cut environmental pollution last year helped reduce the waste going to Hong Kong landfills by six million plastic bags in just four months. During that period, PARKnSHOP sold close to 200,000 environmentally friendly shopping bags – almost six times the number sold in all of 2004 – and refunded the cost of the bags to the 22% of customers who used their new bags regularly. At the same time, there was a huge rise in the number of shoppers who were eligible for PARKnSHOP's 10-cent rebate for every $25 spent and for which they didn't take a plastic bag. The total rebate amount awarded last year was 2.5 times that awarded in 2004.

Through the 'Say No to Plastic Bags' campaign, we're aiming to double the number of plastic bags saved last year, which is 12 million, offering shoppers gifts, discounts and other incentives for consumers to 'Say No to Plastic Bags'.

From today, we're again using confronting imagery, this time of a mountain of discarded plastic bags, to encourage shoppers to 'Say No to Plastic Bags'.
The campaign aims to double the number of bags saved last year, with five ways to motivate shoppers to reduce the number of bags they use.

While we make no apologies for trying to shock consumers into reducing the amount of plastic they consume, we are also giving a gentle reminder to customers who have already bought reusable shopping bags to use them every time they go shopping.

This more subtle message is being delivered by PARKnSHOP's new environmental mascot, 'Earth Baby', a symbol that works on several levels. It reminds us that the Earth, like a baby, needs nurturing and protecting. It's also a gentle reminder that what we do today directly affects the next generation.

'The tide is starting to turn. By saving six million bags last year, Hong Kong consumers have proved that they do care about the environment, and want to make sure that the world we pass on to our children is a better one,' said Mr Philippe Giard, Managing Director of PARKnSHOP, Hong Kong.

'PARKnSHOP wants to keep that momentum going – encouraging more people to switch from plastic bags to reusable bags, and giving people who've already bought reusable bags more incentive to use them every time they shop.'

1. New Environmentally Friendly Shopping Bags:
A range of new environmentally friendly non-woven fabric shopping bags will soon be available for sale in all PARKnSHOP stores. The bags are brightly coloured and attractively designed with the new PARKnSHOP 'Earth Baby' logo.

2. Enjoy Special Privileges in 'Lifestyle Rewards Redemption Program' :
Every time our customers use one of these bags – or any other bag that they bring with them– and spend $50 or more at a time, they'll enjoy special privileges in our 'Lifestyle Rewards Redemption Program' promotion. Instead of having to collect $500 worth of till receipts to qualify for up to 50% off items like vacuum cleaners and desk lamps, they'll qualify for the special price with just one receipt.

3. Free Earth Baby Fridge Magnet:
When shoppers spend $100 or more and don't take any plastic bags, we'll give them a free fridge magnet with the Earth Baby logo. The magnet is a way of PARKnSHOP saying thank-you to customers for helping reduce plastic waste, and will also work as a daily reminder for shoppers to bring their environmentally friendly bags with them each time they shop.

4. Instant 10 Cents Rebate:
PARKnSHOP's long-standing policy of giving shoppers an instant rebate at the checkout for every plastic bag they save still stands. On purchases over $25, for every plastic bag that customers would normally be given but don't use, we give them 10 cents off their shopping, up to $1 on each bill.

5. In-store BYOB Message:
All PARKnSHOP stores will have reminders at the checkout and around the stores encouraging consumers to use as few plastic bags as possible. These will feature both the Earth Baby, and pictures showing the mountain of waste created by plastic bags. All of our cashiers will be wearing a badge featuring the lovely icon and BYOB message. They will also proactively ask customers if they need a plastic bag at checkout.

'Everybody knows that we should be reducing the amount of plastic we use and throw away, but Hong Kong people lead hectic lives and it's no wonder that sometimes things like this slip their minds,' Mr Giard said.

'This campaign reminds consumers that reducing waste is a concern for everyone – and the next generation – and by giving shoppers money in their pockets and gifts in their hands, we're sure we can encourage more and more people to 'Say No to Plastic Bags' and bring their own bags.'

Media enquiries:
Ms Teresa Pang, Public Relations Manager
Media Hotline: 2687 5602

Customer enquiries:
Customer Services Hotline: 2606 8658

About PARKnSHOP
Established in 1973, PARKnSHOP is Hong Kong's leading supermarket chain. With its continuous commitment to innovation, quality, service and value, PARKnSHOP is well recognised by the industry and the wider community through many awards.

Customers know that PARKnSHOP is a name they can trust. We were recently named Hong Kong's “Most Favoured Brand” in a global survey by researchers Ipsos-Reid. For three consecutive years, PARKnSHOP won praise from web giant Yahoo! as 'The Brand 'Yahoo! Users Trust the Most' and in the' Yahoo! Emotive Brand Awards'. We have won a range of management and service awards too, having topped the Supermarkets/Convenience Stores Category in the Hong Kong Retail Management Association's 'Service & Courtesy Award' in 2003.

Our well-known "Fresh Check" and "PriceWatch" programmes guarantee customers the highest possible level of food safety and hygiene while maintaining the lowest prices in town.

PARKnSHOP now operates more than 200 outlets with about 9,000 employees in Hong Kong and Macau. Of those outlets, over 50 are Superstores and Megastores.

PARKnSHOP is a member of the A.S. Watson Group (ASW), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited. With a history dating back to 1828, ASW has evolved into an international retail and manufacturing business with operations in 36 markets across Asia and Europe. Today, the Group operates over 7,100 retail stores, provides a full range of beverages from bottled water, fruit juices, and drinks to some of the world's finest wine labels. The Group employs more than 90,000 staff worldwide.

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