The action will be jointly presented by the European Commission and Metro China. Mr. Magnus Gislev, First Secretary responsible for environment from the European Commission Delegation to China, and Mr. Zhang Shouchuan, General Manager of Metro Business Unit North China, will distribute cloth shopping bag together with staff from both sides. The action coincides with Chinese Government measures to reduce plastic bag waste.

 

The shopping bags made of non-woven cloth are designed for multiple re-use. They also carry environmental tips such as “turn off the lights in the room and corridor when not needed"; "choose energy-saving lamps”; ”do not buy over-packaged goods”; “select goods with energy-saving and environmental protection labels”. Organizers expect such environment-protection concepts can encourage conscious action by the public.

 

Mr. Gislev comments, "unnecessary use of plastic bags leads to a waste of natural resources and contributes to health damages, climate change, litter and the killing of wildlife. By using less plastic bags, Chinese citizens will concretely demonstrate that they care about the environment. "

 

Mr. Zhang Shouchuan says "this public welfare activity is a continuation of the environment-protection concept which Metro China consistently adheres to, which also embodies the social responsibility of Metro as a corporate citizen".

 

In recent years, litter caused by plastic bags has raised more and more attention among the general public. Early in 2008, China's State Council announced a new regulation to all traders including supermarkets, stores, markets etc, which will take effect on 1st June when free plastic bags will be prohibited.

 

The European Union is at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change and has played a key role in the development of major international environmental laws. The EU and China established the EU-China Climate Change Partnership in 2005 and are actively cooperating to fight climate change, prevent pollution, protect biological diversity and promote a resource-saving society.

 

Metro has played a leading role in controlling litter for twelve years by implementing the practice of asking customers to pay for plastic bags in 37 stores across 31 Chinese cities since 1996. With growing overall public awareness of environmental protection, this practice is gradually recognized by the majority of customers.

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For more information on the European Union in China, please contact the press officers for the European Commission Delegation to China, Mr. William Fingleton at +86 13911603579, email: william.fingleton@ec.europa.eu or Ms. Zhong Na at +86 13501087209, email: na.zhong@ec.europa.eu.

 

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METRO Group is one of the most important international retailing and trading companies with the sales of € 64.3 billion in 2007. The company has a headcount of more than 280,000 employees and operates about 2,500 outlets in 31 countries. The operating business is performed by the sales brands which operate independently in the market: Metro/Makro Cash & Carry, Real hypermarkets, Media Markt and Saturn – market leader in consumer electronics centers in Europe, and Galeria Kaufhof department stores.

 

METRO Cash & Carry International (MCCI) is a sales division of the METRO Group. In 2007, MCCI reached sales of € 31.7 billion, extended to 29 countries and run 615 cash & carry stores.

 

Metro came to China in 1995, cooperating with JinJiang Group to establish Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Co. Ltd. In 1996, Metro JinJiang C&C opened its first store in Shanghai to introduce a brand-new business concept to China. So far Metro runs 37 stores in 31 cities across the country, employs over 8,300 employees and serves 3 million professional customers. Metro China net revenue in 2007 reached 9.52 billion RMB.

More information at: www.metro.cn