Responsible for the campaign "Plastic Bags Stink", the Brazilian Ministry of Environment (MMA) has launched the Conscious Consumer Day - October 15 - and proposes a challenge: a day without the use of plastic bags. As it has happened in the Car Free Day, the idea is to raise environmental awareness among consumers and encourage them to refuse plastic bags in their shopping on this date, adopting a returnable bag or another alternative.
In 2008, Consumers International (CI) launched a global mobilization on October 15 to mark the importance of education for sustainable consumption. The movement Global Consumer Action Day received support from more than 40 member institutions of the IC and other consumer groups in 33 countries, contributing to The Marrakesh Process, in which Brazil took part in 2007, being represented by the MMA.
The challenge of the Plastic Bag Free Day was accepted by the supermarket chain Carrefour - the newest partner of the MMA's campaign "Plastic Bags Stink". It will start in Rio de Janeiro, where the stores will encourage housewives and other customers to refuse plastic bags.
The celebration will also be marked by the launch of the campaign Internet strategy, with the presentation of the website www.sacoeumsaco.com.br and of the coordinated actions on social networks like Orkut, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. The goal is to spread the campaign among opinion formers and Internet users in general.
Each year 500 billion plastic bags are disposed of improperly in the environment around the world, clogging drains, causing floods, polluting waters and killing turtles. In Brazil, it is estimated that 1.5 million plastic bags are consumed every hour.
Redes Sociais