Uniqlo Singapore is ditching its plastic shopping bags in favour of paper.

The decision reflects a global move by the brand to become more environmentally friendly and reduce its reliance on single-use plastics. The new bags will retail at 10 cents each, with a more robust eco-friendly tote bag available at SG$2.90.

Uniqlo’s Japanese parent Fast Retailing Group announced intentions to eliminate unnecessary plastics use throughout its supply chain in July last year. The firm plans to reduce single-use plastic by 85 per cent (around 7800 tons annually) by the end of this year. 

Uniqlo is also addressing other factors in its supply chain, including reducing the volume of water used in its jeans washing process by an average of 90 per cent as well as introducing a new material in its clothing items – Dry-Ex – derived from recycled plastic bottles