‘Plastic attack’ protest in Hong Kong to target packaging for food in supermarkets that activists consider excessive

The plastic bag tax in Hong Kong hasn’t reduced the amount of packaging supermarkets use. An environmentalist is recruiting for a protest in which activists will buy produce in stores and remove its packaging at the checkout

Reading Time:4 minutes

Environmentalist James Marlow-Smith is organising a “plastic attack” protest against supermarkets in Hong Kong. Photo: Tory Ho

Published: 7:15pm, 3 Jun 2018Updated: 9:38am, 11 Jul 2019

Hong Kong environmental activists are preparing to demonstrate against the use of excessive plastic packaging on products in the city’s supermarkets.

Taking the lead from similar events staged across Europe and the United States, the group will gather at supermarkets across the city on June 24 to remove the wrapping from items they have bought, and leave the resulting rubbish at checkouts.

“Over the past several years in Hong Kong, and all over the world, people have become much more aware of the huge need to cut down on plastic waste,” says campaign organiser James Marlow-Smith, who is recruiting fellow activists for his “plastic attack” via Facebook.

Fruit in a plastic tray that is wrapped in plastic. Ironically, the only unwrapped fruit in this photo is the durian. Photo: Tory Ho

“Hong Kong is running out of landfill. Steps are being taken by the government, but … putting a 50 cent levy on bags isn’t enough – especially as small produce bags, used for items like dairy and meat, aren’t included in the charge,” the environmentalist says.

Hong Kong zero-waste, packaging-free store takes on supermarkets

He says he is not calling for a ban on all plastics – rather the wraps, boxes and polystyrene often seen as packaging for fruit and vegetables.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x