Plastic bag shortage a misguided controversyBy Chang Shang-yang 張商陽Some news media have recently reported on a “plastic bag chaos,” citing online posts claiming that Japan and Australia both still provide free plastic bags, and questioning whether Taiwan’s plastic reduction policies are merely an excuse to charge consumers. However, the issue is not whether breakfast purchases come with a plastic bag, but rather that the premise of these claims is fundamentally flawed. All Japanese retailers have been required to charge for plastic bags since July 2020. Australia’s approach is even more direct, as regions have outright banned single-use plastic bags, requiring consumers to either bring their own bag or pay for one. At the same time, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has said that Taiwan would no longer face plastic bag shortages after unification.

Source: Taipei Times April 04, 2026 18:34 UTC