Record shoppers in Fossano

by Alessandro Ferrua

It could be a sculpture of plastic bags that is the symbol of the desired end of the disposable products. If it will be in the Guinness of World Records, and may also be more than ever a reminder of the errors of production and consumption of our age, by the future generations.

On 27 November, in Fossano, a town in the south of the Piedmont, during the European Week for Waste Reduction, there will be a record attempt, with more than 50.000 shopping bags, collected from 160.000 inhabitants of 54 municipalities served by CSEA (Consortium of Ecological Management) in the Cuneo province.
This event is part of a campaign named “Una borsa è per sempre” (A bag is forever), which was promoted, says Dr. Aldo Galliano, President of the Consortium, «to invite people to choose to use reusable bags before the ban of plastic shopping bags».

The system for finding such a large number of bags was very successful. In fact, citizens, having the opportunity to receive a cotton bag, printed with the campaign slogan, in exchange of 5 plastic shopping bags given, were very generous. At the same time, there is a competition for primary schools in which classes that collect the highest number of shopping bags win some prizes. Galliano is «very satisfied with the response of schools and the choice of offering the bags of cotton from the people, for avoid the old plastic bags is a symbolic confirmation of the good results of this campaign of environmental communication».
Also retailers do their part for sustainable choosing. «The Confcommercio of Fossano, Saluzzo and Savigliano – says Galliano – are key-partners, through which the local shops can now consolidate this good practice in the area. In fact, by the end of November, everyone will have adjusted, so plastic shopping bags will no longer be distributed and there will be some details on the shop windows».

This project, which involves different types of players, will make a significant impact on the area, thanks to the record attempt. It makes also the public a real agent of change. The visibility of the event to several media sources may also affect the lifestyles of people, even outside the territory of the CSEA campaign, showing in a nice artistic way the critical repercussions of our old habits.