7-Eleven Malaysia eco-friendly initiative turns 100% recycled ocean plastics into reusable bags

7-Eleven Malaysia has just launched an eco-friendly initiative to transform post-consumer plastic bottle waste into tote bags. The brand’s new and exclusive reusable bag collection is dedicated to sustainability, encouraging Malaysians to factor in environmental friendly steps while shopping.

The largest 24-hour standalone convenience store operator nationwide has released two reusable bag variants – the Out of the Ocean Bag and the Recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) Bottle Bag – to address the conundrum of what to do further with all the plastic waste being generated.

The Out of the Ocean Bag is constructed using 100% recycled ocean plastics whereby every bag removes the equivalent of two-to-three bottles from the oceans and waterways. On the other hand, the Recycled PET Bottle Bag is upcycled from 100% recycled PET bottles.

7-Eleven Malaysia’s General Manager of Marketing, Ronan Lee, said: “Plastic trash are ecologically damaging to the planet that we live on and we want to make a change through our Trash To Treasure reusable bag campaign that aim to drive momentum in influencing our customers’ behaviour to bring their reusable bags when shopping in our stores as well as provide financial contribution to our chosen change agent NPO partners as every little step matters.”

“On top of this, we are also currently using bio-degradable plastic bags in our stores as part of our environmental protection efforts. We hope that our sustainability initiatives will encourage our consumers to shop while keeping the environment in mind to protect the world that we live in from more plastic waste. We must do our part to transform #TrashToTreasure.”

General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia, Julian Hyde, said: “Trash leaking into our ocean is a serious and universal issue. Our teams based on the islands and the island communities see it first-hand – trash washing up to the shores, plastic bags being caught on coral reefs, ghost nets trapping marine animals. It’s devastating. Everyone has a role to play if we are to find sustainable solutions to this problem, and this initiative by 7-Eleven Malaysia is a perfect example of how companies can play a role.”

General Manager of Juara Turtle Project, Tom Woodford, said: “We are really grateful to 7-Eleven Malaysia for stepping up and recognising that big companies need to help lead the way to changing how we use plastics. Plastic based marine debris is a massive problem for our marine life, including but not exclusive to the sea turtles that we work with here at JTP. We hope that this campaign will inspire people to change their behaviour and to make their own little contribution to protecting our ocean.”

For more information on the latest #TrashToTreasure Reusable Bag Campaign, click here or visit the official social media pages at 7ElevenMalaysia.