New Era of Tableware
新食器時代 4.0減塑減廢永保安康
Pacific Sogo Department Stores Co., Ltd.
SOGO has fully banned disposable tableware for both dine-ins and take-away,
reducing 200 tons of waste annually. Furthermore, the Company collaborates
with the Environmental Protection Administration and non-governmental
organisations to share their experience on banning disposable tableware.
INTRODUCTION
Disposable tableware has been a convenient and affordable choice for food services. However, cups, plates, bowls and other utensils made from paper, plastic or styrofoam has a negative impact on the environment. In Taiwan, 60,000 tons of disposable tableware are consumed each year and throughout the process of manufacturing and disposing of these tableware, natural resources are continually depleted and the burden of waste management increases, causing serious damage to the environment overtime. The Company launched the “New Era of Tableware” project in 2017 with the goal of changing the behaviour of consumers’ and to further achieve the goal of waste reduction. This project also corresponds to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
The Company launched the project by targeting to change consumers’ behaviour on tableware consumption, to ultimately encourage consumers’ to abandon disposable tableware, to reduce waste and to relieve Mother Earth’s environmental burden. In order to achieve that, in 2017, melamine tableware were disposed in food courts, restaurants and staff canteens while imposing a ban on disposable tableware for dine-in customers. To further encourage this project, the Company invites customers to join “Zero Waste Eating” by encouraging customers’ to bring their own tableware to leave as little waste behind as possible. Additionally, in May of 2019, the Company imposed a ban on plastic straws and also stopped providing disposable utensils for take-away customers’.ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
An estimated 4.5 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks are consumed annually in Taiwan and with a total length exceeding 20 times of Earth’s perimeter. The Company has fully banned disposable tableware for both dine-ins and takeaway, reducing 200 tons of waste annually. Furthermore, the Company collaborates with the Environmental Protection Administration and non-governmental organisations to share their experience on banning disposable tableware. Moreover, the Company encourages customers’ to bring eco-friendly bags by offering discounts, thus making every purchase as environmentally friendly as possible. In 2019, the supermarket in Zhongxiao Store saw a reduction in 55,000 plastic packages, a 88% reduction compared to 2018. With over 2 years of experience, the Company has helped retailers all over Taiwan to painlessly reduce waste and customer satisfaction survey shows that more than 88% of customers are highly satisfied with the “New Era of Tableware” project.FUTURE DIRECTION
Being the leading departmental store in Taiwan for over 33 years, the Company believes that they have the responsibility to set higher standards before any government intervention. Therefore, the Company puts itself in all stakeholders’ shoes to come up with various ideas for the betterment of the society, customers, employees, vendors and the Company itself. As far as the Company is concerned, establishing green departmental stores is as important as profiting and they are committed to reduce daily waste while also increasing customer acquisition. Additionally, the Company will make full use of their advantage to invite customers to participate in being environmentally friendly throughout their customer journey and continue to practice green and sustainable lifestyles.
SOGO was established in 1987 and joined the Far Eastern Group in 2002. The Company actively develops
digital marketing and omnichannel platform as its operational goals, hoping to meet the needs of customers
to keep up with the rise of diversified retail malls, e-commerce and mobile consumption.
