UNDP
Eswatini
Free distribution of high volumes of single-use plastic bags by grocery retailers in Eswatini has exacerbated waste and environmental management challenges. UNDP Eswatini's Accelerator Lab ran a campaign in partnership with an environment parastatal, Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA), that introduced the non-distribution of single-use plastic bags by major retailers. The Lab ran a behavioural experiment in the form of a 13-week multimedia campaign named "Phatsa Sakho Nawe" (Bring your own bag). The campaign disseminated a set of messages to the public about the impacts of plastic bag waste, information about a gradual ban on plastic bag issuance by retailers nationwide, and encouraging consumers to bring their own carrier bag each time they go shopping. This was coupled with phased bans on plastic bag issuance in nationwide branches of five large retailers. Bans were put in place incrementally (i.e. on certain days of the week). Affordable reusable bags (provided by youth and women-led SMEs, thus also supporting their livelihoods) were available to buy as an alternative. The campaign messages were placed on posters, radio shows, TV talkshows, public transport stickers, newspapers adverts, banners and branding material in stores, social media, and through comedians. Data collection was conducted through face to face and online surveys with consumers in shopping centres, monitoring of social media conversations about the campaign, and observations in stores during days when plastic bags were not issued. Interventions had a gradual and varied impact on consumers, and encouraged more retailers (who were not originally part of the experiment) to voluntarily implement plastic-free days. The Lab's experimentation and data analysis in this area is ongoing.