As demand increases, reusable shopping bags have become available in a variety of designs and at a wide range of price points. (image: Gmarket)
SEOUL, Apr. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Since the beginning of this year, disposable plastic bags have been banned at large retailers.
As the crackdown began this month, “green” alternative products such as reusable shopping bags and tarpaulin bags are gaining popularity.
Gmarket, an online shopping site run by eBay Korea, said on Wednesday that sales of alternative items for disposable products increased in the first quarter of this year.
Sales of baskets rose 190 percent from a year earlier, while those of mat-like textured tarpaulin bags also jumped 107 percent.
The crackdown on disposable plastic bags has also triggered a reduction in purchases of disposable plastic garbage bags.
Analysts say that the increased crackdown on plastic bags has resulted in more people turning to reusable shopping bags or tote bags.
As demand increases, reusable shopping bags have become available in a variety of designs and at a wide range of price points.
Recently, pocket type bags, which are light and thin, or larger than ordinary plastic bags when unfolded, have become popular.
In addition, carrying tumblers or reusable shopping bags is now becoming popular enough to establish a new “eco-fashion’ trend.
As many low-priced products have been released, prices have dropped by an average of 18 percent.
On the other hand, the price of tarpaulin bags, which have better materials and larger capacity than ordinary shopping bags, has increased by 250 percent as more high-end products have become available.
Meanwhile, in addition to shopping bags, tumblers and other cups that replace paper cups in everyday life are also selling well.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
