Switch from single-use plastic bags to reusable this September
PEOPLE are invited to swap their unwanted plastic bags for a free reusable fabric bag as part of an eco-friendly initiative being run by Specsavers Ópticas in Fuengirola.
During the month of September, the opticians are inviting the public to bring five used plastic bags into the store to exchange them for a high-quality fabric shopping bag. The plastic bags will then be recycled to ensure they do not go into landfill.
As part of its commitment to the environment, the Specsavers Ópticas team will also be taking part in the Mi Moana beach clean-up for International Coastal Cleanup Day on 18 September. The first 50 volunteers to help with the clean-up and bring five plastic bags will be given a fabric bag to take away. This is part of the team’s ongoing support for Mi Moana.
Store director, Amrik Sappal, explains: ‘Plastic bags are a big problem for our environment as they can end up in landfill and break down to small, toxic particles, or in our oceans, where they are responsible for killing an estimated 100,000 marine animals each year. This is why we’re offering free reusable bags in September. We’re asking people to bring five used plastic bags to exchange, in the hope that it will encourage people to make the switch from plastic to reusable. We will then recycle the bags on their behalf.’
‘This is the latest in a series of actions we’re taking to protect the environment. We stopped using plastic bags in store in 2018 and help our customers to recycle their old glasses and put them to good use by collecting unwanted glasses for the Lions Club.
We are also excited to be launching a new range of glasses, specifically designed to reduce environmental impact. The foundation of each frame in the 24-strong ReWear collection is five discarded water bottles, repurposed into plastic chips – the core material used to create the frames. Other materials used to develop the range include M49 bioplastic – a bio-based acetate.
We’re proud to have been lending our support to Mi Moana since 2019, to help fund their education programme and beach clean events, and look forward to doing our bit at their beach clean for International Coastal Cleanup Day, as well as our plastic bag exchange.’
You can bring your used plastic bags into the store on Avda. Ramon y Cajal 6 throughout September. Alternatively join the Mi Moana beach clean for International Coastal Cleanup Day on 18 September and bring along five plastic bags with you. The beach clean starts at 10am and takes place at the Fuengirola’s T Pier (Espigon de la T). The first 50 volunteers to bring their plastic bags to the event will receive a reusable, fabric bag, as well as doing their bit to protect the environment during the beach clean.
Environmental association Mi Moana has been created to protect the ocean. They have committed to organise one beach clean-up per month and educate the next generation, helping them reduce their impact on their environment
Find out more about Mi Moana by visiting www.mimoana.org. Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest Specsavers Ópticas store.