Photo by Brando Makes Branding on Unsplash (illustrative)
Since 3 July 2023, Singapore's biggest supermarket operators have had to charge at least 5 cents for each disposable carrier bag. In a written parliamentary reply on 4 March 2025, environment minister Grace Fu said the operators saw a 70% to 80% drop in bags issued in the policy's first year.
Key facts
The charge applies to supermarket operators with annual turnover above S$100 million, covering about two-thirds of supermarket outlets.
Operators reported 70% to 80% fewer disposable bags issued in the first year.
The charge covers bags of every material, including paper and degradable plastic, so shoppers do not simply switch to another throwaway bag.
Supermarkets must publish how many bags they issue, how much they collect and how they use the money.
Why it matters
Disposable bags made up roughly two-thirds of the disposables thrown away by Singapore's households and businesses. A small, visible price nudged shoppers to bring their own bags, showing that modest charges can change everyday habits quickly.
Worth noting
The figure comes from the supermarket operators themselves, and the charge does not apply to online grocery orders or smaller shops. Supermarkets are only encouraged, not required, to give the proceeds to good causes, and some have used them for their own operations.