In Addis Abeba, the ban on plastic bags has quickly led to disruptions. Bakeries and markets struggle to find affordable and safe alternatives amid rising costs. The nationwide measure took effect just over a week ago.
In Addis Abeba, the sudden disappearance of plastic bags followed the enforcement of a citywide ban. Bakeries have encountered difficulties in packaging bread, with customers arriving using plates, lace bags, or arriving empty-handed. The search for affordable and safe alternatives has proven challenging, as costs for options like cloth and sacking-based bags have reached up to 350 birr.
Non-woven bags are now also prohibited, prompting some bakeries to produce their own bags without established regulatory standards, according to Yitbarek Getachew, a staff writer for Addis Fortune. At Patina Bakery & Cake on Gabon Street, owner Muluken Hailu expressed uncertainty stemming from reliance on plastic bags. The ban, which applies nationwide in Ethiopia, came into effect just over a week before February 14, 2026. Kidist Yidnekachew's column highlights struggles in daily tasks like carrying bread and bananas under the new policy. While aimed at environmental protection through reduced plastic use, the measure has immediately caused operational hurdles for businesses and consumers alike.
