Customers at K-stores less likely to buy plastic bags – senior citizens the least likely buyers

“A year ago in April, we decided to make the price of plastic, paper and biodegradable bags the same in all K-food stores, so that it would be easier for our customers to choose alternatives to plastic bags. This has proven a success: the sales of paper and biodegradable bags have risen in K-food stores, as have the sales of durable bags. Meanwhile, the consumption of plastic bags has decreased in relative terms: the sales of plastic bags have grown by 0% despite the increase in our customer numbers,” says Matti Kalervo, K Group’s Vice President of Corporate Responsibility.

Senior citizens least likely to buy any sort of bag

Senior citizens and those living in adult-only households are the least likely buyers of plastic bags. In fact, senior citizens are the least likely to buy any type of shopping bag in a K-food store.

In regional terms, people in the Åland Islands, Uusimaa and Varsinais-Suomi buy the least plastic bags, and people in Kymenlaakso and Ostrobothnia the most.

Plastic bags are most often bought by single people and young couples, and by customers who choose familiar basic products by known brands, with emphasis on convenience foods.

Meanwhile, customers who choose healthy, high-quality foods that are ethically and ecologically produced are most likely to buy paper bags. Families with children and people living alone are the most likely to buy other types of shopping bags, such as durable bags or biodegradable bags.