"It's Reached Its Limit"... Price of Convenience Store Trash Bags Raised by 40%

Seven-Eleven Raises Store Plastic Bag Prices

Trash Disposal Bags for Franchisees Up to 39% More Expensive

Cost Pressure from Middle East Conflict

Not for Sale to Consumers, but for Store Operations Only

Seven-Eleven, a convenience store chain operated by Korea Seven, has raised the price of plastic bags used by store owners by nearly 40%. This move comes as the price of naphtha, a key raw material for plastics and vinyl packaging, has surged due to the aftermath of the Middle East conflict.

Amid growing concerns about a 'vinyl shortage' due to supply instability caused by the Middle East crisis, vinyl-related products are displayed at a market in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to industry sources on April 13, Seven-Eleven recently increased the price of plastic bags used by store owners for waste disposal by up to 39%. Seven-Eleven provides four types of plastic bags to franchisees, each sold in packs of 50. The price of the large black plastic bag increased from 77 won to 106 won, up 37.7%, while the small black bag went from 57 won to 78 won, a 36.8% increase.

In addition, the price of large transparent plastic bags rose from 80 won to 111 won, a 38.8% increase, while the small transparent bags rose from 59 won to 82 won, an increase of 39%. A Seven-Eleven official stated, "This adjustment in waste bag prices concerns store operation supplies, not products sold to consumers. We had maintained supply without price increases to ease cost burdens on our suppliers, but as international oil prices remain high for an extended period, the management conditions for small and medium-sized suppliers have reached their limits." The official added, "This adjustment was made based on an official request from suppliers, and we are supplying the bags to franchisees at cost. Franchisees can also choose to purchase alternative products if they wish."

Seven-Eleven announced that it would consider readjusting prices if raw material and oil prices stabilize in the future and plans to maintain close communication with its suppliers to ensure a sustainable and mutually beneficial supply chain.

Other convenience store chains have not announced price increases but have restricted the maximum order quantity of plastic bags that franchisees can place to ensure stable supply. GS25, operated by GS Retail, reduced the maximum order for eco-friendly bags (packs of 500) from three boxes to one box per order, while CU, operated by BGF Retail, limited the maximum order to 30 units.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.