TAIPEI, 6 May 2021- 7-Eleven Taiwan has announced that it will phase out single-use plastics by 2050, the first major convenience store chain in Asia to do so. The company estimates that single-use plastics will comprise less than 20% of all packaging used in their Taiwan stores by 2023.

In response, Greenpeace East Asia plastics campaigner Suzanne Lo said:

“7-Eleven’s announcement is a milestone not only for plastic reduction efforts in Taiwan, but also across Asia. It shows that retailers can take bold action to cut down on plastic waste, including beverage containers, food packaging, and delivery waste. However, 2050 is a long way off, and the timeline must be sped up. Moreover, while we are proud that the plastic-free initiative started in Taiwan, it needs to be scaled up to all 7-Eleven stores globally. We will continue to track 7-Eleven’s progress and are looking to see solutions that are based in reuse and reduction, rather than substitution of plastics with other single-use materials.

“In Taiwan, we hope this announcement catalyzes more retailers to commit to a full phase-out of single-use plastics, including Family Mart, PX Mart and Carrefour. Retail giants have the tools to stop clogging our landfills and oceans with plastic – it just depends on whether these corporations want to take action.”

Over the past year 7-Eleven Taiwan has initiated pilot programs to reduce plastic waste, including a beverage cup rental system at four stores and reusable delivery package return stations at 18 stores.

7-Eleven Taiwan, owned by President Chain Store Corporation, is the largest convenience store chain in Taiwan and the fourth largest 7-Eleven franchise in Asia.

Other convenience stores in Taiwan are also beginning to initiate plastic reduction programs. Family Mart Taiwan has announced a pilot program at one Taoyuan store that provides reusable cups for rent and sells food items in reusable lunch boxes, though they have not yet publicly announced a plan to eliminate single-use plastics throughout their stores.

Greenpeace East Asia has been campaigning 7-Eleven and other retailers in Taiwan to phase out single-use plastic since 2019. A 2020 investigation by Greenpeace East Asia and Taiwan National Cheng Kung University Department of Environmental Engineering found that 7-Eleven stories in Taipei City and Kaohsiung produced 15,000 tons of plastic waste a year, with at least 30% of the waste sent to incinerators. Over the past two years, 210,000 Greenpeace supporters signed a petition urging major retailers in Taiwan, including 7-Eleven, to implement a single-use plastics reduction plan and increase reuse.

Contacts:

Fay Lee,  Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia (Taipei): 
+886 933-905-900, [email protected]

Erin Newport, Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia (Taipei):
+886 958-026-791, [email protected]

Greenpeace International Press Desk:
[email protected], +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)