DENMARK. Gebr Heinemann has stepped up its quest to cut down on single-use plastic bags by introducing a charge for bags at Copenhagen Airport.
All single-use plastic bags in the retailer’s duty free stores at the Danish airport are now only available for a fee of DKK2 (US$0.30) or DKK3 (US$0.44), with 100% of the proceeds going to international marine conservation organisation, Oceancare.
Copenhagen Airport Chief Commercial Officer Peter Krogsgaard commented: “Here in Copenhagen Airport, we are very happy that our long-term partner is taking the initiative to something this tangible. We hope to see more like this in the future from all our partners and will do what we can to help them succeed with their ideas to make a difference for the environment.”
At the start of 2017, Heinemann first started charging for single-use plastic bags at the 14 airports the retailer operates in Germany and Austria. This resulted in a -70% reduction in single-use plastic bags across these stores that year.
The initiative was then extended to Bratislava and Ljubljana airports in 2018 and Budapest and Copenhagen airports this year. From the start of 2017 until the end of the first quarter of 2019, Heinemann has donated a total of €300,000 to OceanCare.
Heinemann Retail Denmark Managing Director Esben Keller said: “Our goal is to massively reduce the consumption of plastic bags. In our shops, we have the opportunity to draw the attention of customers from all over the world to the issue of plastic pollution and to strengthen their awareness of the problem.
“In the best case, our customers are happy to refrain from using a disposable bag or to opt for a reusable bag with this knowledge. However, we know that customers in our shops enjoy making spontaneous purchases and need additional options for carrying them. Through our cooperation with OceanCare, it will nevertheless be possible for our customers to make a contribution to global nature conservation.”
OceanCare’s work supports the likes of the British Divers for Marine Life Rescue, a world-leading stranding network for seals, dolphins and whales.
“The decision of Tax Free Heinemann shops at Copenhagen Airport is another milestone in joint efforts [for] reducing single-use plastic waste,” OceanCare Founder & President Sigrid Lüber said. “We applaud Gebr Heinemann for their clear and measurable contribution… to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds by 2025. A goal which can only be reached if all stakeholders are making a joint effort.”