Swiss firm Duty Free Innovation (DFI) has launched a collection of sustainable shopping bags to ensure travel retail is ‘at the forefront of the global fight against plastic leaking into the environment’.

Responding directly to heightened demand for plastic-free packaging coupled with ever-tighter regulations on plastic usage, DFI has unveiled The Travel Bag, The Shopper Tote Bag and Duffel Bag, Paper Bag Range and Polythene Bag Range.

DFI says up to 10 billion single-use plastic bags are used in the industry every year, with only a small percentage being recycled or re-used.

DUAL PURPOSE

The new lines are positioned as an affordable alternative for retailers and are designed to replace or upgrade existing plastic bags handed out to shoppers while simultaneously helping to combat the scourge on the environment.

Currently, the lines are being considered by a number of travel retailers, many of which are already committed to supporting the global sustainability agenda.

Garry Stasiulevicuis, Vice President Global Commercial Strategy at DFI said: “At DFI, we believe everyone has a role to play in changing how plastic pollutes the environment. The range we provide allows us to help retailers make progress on their sustainability efforts while driving their social and ethical credentials for travellers and shoppers.”

The Travel Bag, designed specifically for travel retail, uses certified 91% rPET material and will save three plastic bottles from landfill, says DFI.

By fitting easily over the handles of a trolley bag for hands-free shopping and carriage, DFI says the Travel Bag encourages shoppers to purchase more.

As mentioned, other innovations include The Shopper Tote Bag and Duffel Bag (made from 100% certified recycled plastic); Paper Bag Range (made from 100% recyclable paper and approved by the Forest Stewardship Council); and Polythene Bag Range (made from 70% recycled factory waste.)

These have already been adopted by multiple high-street retailers including Selfridges and Boots.

COLLECTIVE ACTION NEEDED

As consumer, business and government voices on the hugely detrimental issue of plastic waste in industries reach a cacophony, DFI has made a noble pledge.

Through its sales process, which it says measures exactly how many bottles it saves, the firm believes it can help the industry to save one billion bottles from polluting the environment by 2025 through turning them into recycled, reusable bags.

Dubai Duty Free, for example, has committed to removing all single-use plastics from its operations by 2020.

Simon Best, Vice President Innovation for DFI adds: “It is critical for the travel retail industry as a whole to react and embrace change when considering the role of single-use plastic. The industry must act now and serve as a role model to other channels.”

As reported, TRBusiness has joined forces with DFI to raise crucial awareness of the plight against single-use plastics wastage and the need for more industry-wide, environmentally conscious decisions.

Earlier in the week, this title announced the Plastic Pledge, urging stakeholders across the industry to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.

Click here now to sign-up to the Plastic Pledge and join a coalition pushing forward the ‘green’ agenda through the new Travel Retail Sustainability Forum (TRSF), where you will have the opportunity to contribute to the conversation on environmental protection.

For more information on the TRSF and Plastic Pledge, click here.

Please find links to the TRSF Facebook and Linkedin pages here. To join the conversation on Twitter use #TRSF or #TRSustainabilityForum.