This is a significant step for Thailand to take as it is the sixth largest contributor to plastic waste in the world's oceans. Shopping malls and convenience stores, which have been responsible for the distribution of some 13.5 billion plastic bags per year, have adopted the ban. One of these, The Mall Group, has been gearing up for going green since last July. For six months, it encouraged shoppers to refuse plastic bags and instead bring their own reusable bags from home. This was met with an enthusiastic response: the group reduced the number of single-use plastic bags given out by 3 million per month.

Source: Bangkok Post February 16, 2020 23:48 UTC