Plastic Pollution: Traders in Thailand scoff at plastic bag ban

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There's rarely been such widespread agreement as there is over the need to cut plastic waste. It's a global problem, particularly in the world's oceans. But some who rely on plastic say however good the intentions, getting rid of things like plastic bags is simply not practical. Martin Lowe examines this controversial point of view.

Plastic bags for so long seen as one of life's essentials. And in Thailand, this is where more are handed out than perhaps anywhere else.

Klong Toei is Bangkok's biggest fresh food market – open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wrapping fish, meat, ice, fruit, vegetables and a host of other products, it's thought tens of thousands of plastic bags are dispensed here daily.

Globally, countries are uniting to cut the use of plastic - seen as a major polluter. But here on the shopping front line, traders and buyers all say there's no alternative.

VALANA TINPAE FISH SELLER "If we don't use plastic bags what else can we use? A cloth bag – no we can't. A paper bag can be torn even with vegetables because they are wet. Fruit can go in a cloth bag but not fish like this. It cannot!"

PANIDA SANGCHAN MEAT SELLER "What can we replace plastic with? It would have to be a box and the cost would increase, right?"

Thailand is one of five Asian countries that between them are responsible for half the plastic waste that's washed into the world's oceans. Marine life pays the highest price; in southern Thailand, a pilot whale choked to death with 80 plastic bags in its stomach. The Thai government is targeting markets in a campaign to cut the country's use of 45 billion plastic bags a year by almost half.

MEREE SANSUK SHOPPER "I know there's a campaign but I think we have to use plastic bags for things like fish, they're wet and smelly and they won't let me on the bus otherwise."

PAVEERA JAIKAENGDEE SHOPPER "Things like shrimp and squid, they need to be separated from chilis. Paper bags won't work; they'll rip."

MARTIN LOWE BANGKOK "While few would deny the need to reduce plastic waste, here they're asking: 'What else can do the job?' It's an inconvenient truth in a world where plastic – though cheap and convenient – has been declared the enemy."

Biodegradable packaging does exist – here in Asia often made from Bamboo – but it costs more. And in economies where every dollar and cent counts, that's a major consideration. Martin Lowe CGTN Bangkok.