the seller can refuse to honour people’s request for them using their own packaging
Preposterous! How are we expected to reduce our consumption of single use containers if we are not allowed to use anything else?
I’ve had great success bringing my own sealable glass bowls when I want to get takeout and they eyeball out the regular size portion for me. But here currently it’s only possible on an ad-hoc basis, by asking as a favor as a regular, since it’s just not part of custom. It would be great if bring-your-own-container was protected and encouraged by law!
My city passed a plastic bag ban recently and I was skeptical about it at first but it actually has been a great help. Not even so much in banning the bags themselves, but in changing the culture and expectations. Now it feels perfectly normal to bring in your own canvas bags to shop because everyone does it, whereby before you’d look like a weirdo for doing it.