Survey-(Trend of using plastic bags slightly decreased, cloth bag increased)

Islamabad, March 09, 2011 (PPI): The trend of using plastic bag for grocery shopping has slightly decreased in the past few years whereas the use of cloth bag has increased.

According to a Gilani Research Foundation survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, more than three fourth of all Pakistanis (76%) from across the country claim to use plastic bag for grocery shopping and 17% say they use cloth bag. In 2007, a similar Gallup and Gilani poll had found that 80% claimed to use plastic bag and 12% cloth bag.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were asked the following question: "What is mostly used in your household for grocery shopping? In 2011 76% said they mostly use plastic bag for grocery shopping, 17% cloth bag, 3% paper bag and 4% basket. The comparable figures in response to the same question in 2007 were: 80% used plastic bag, 12% cloth bag and 3% paper bag. 4% used basket for this purpose.

The findings of the recent survey reveal no significant difference in opinion of people from across various demographics.

The study was released by Gilani foundation and carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 2718 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during February 2011. Error margin is estimated to be approximately + 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level.