Outlets in shopping complexes like Galleria Shopping Mall in Hiranandani, Powai and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar stopped using plastic bags or wrappings on Saturday. Only a handful were seen using plastic wrapping due to lack of options. Among those that complained were lingerie and luggage stores.
“We had to wrap the lingerie in paper for a customer as she wouldn’t have taken the product otherwise,” Seema Samantak, cashier at Niki stores in Galleria Mall, said. At the R-City mall, outlets including Tommy Hilfiger, Wildcraft and VIP couldn’t package their products, as they wouldn’t fit in paper bags or paper wrapping.
Ayesha Shaikh, an employee at Delsey Paris, said, “We are wrapping our products in plastic because customers can’t possibly buy from us in such heavy rains without packaging. We don’t have any other option at the moment.”
Employees at several other outlets said they had started using paper or cloth bags. Outlets at the Food Court at R-city stopped takeaway services and started using wooden cutlery.
The Dadar Flower Market remained unaffected, as vendors have always used leaves or newspapers to wrap flowers.