Supermarkets Narrowly Miss Reduction Target For Plastic Bags

Fri, 17 Jul 2009
 
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Britain's major supermarkets have cut the number of plastic bags they use by nearly 5.1 billion a year, according to new figures.

Last December, seven supermarket groups signed up to a voluntary deal to help the environment by reducing the number of single-use carrier bags they use by half compared to 2006 figures.

According to new government figures released yesterday, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, the Co-op, Marks and Spencer and Somerfield have collectively slashed the number of bags they hand out each month by 48 per cent, from 870 million in 2006 to 452 million - just shy of their 50 per cent reduction target.

Schemes such as charging for plastic carrier bags and encouraging shoppers to reuse 'bags for life' have helped the grocery retailers in their efforts to become more eco-friendly.

The cut in bag usage means a 56 per cent reduction in the amount of plastic used to make the carriers, and more than 4,000 tonnes less waste going to landfill per month.

Stephen Robertson, Director General of the British Retail Consortium said the change was incredible given the fact that supermarket sales had grown by five per cent over the same time.

"Changing customer habits on this scale, this quickly, isn't easy," he said. "But it's a huge testament to customers, who've switched to bags for life and cut bag usage. Hard working retail staff also deserve credit, as do supermarkets .

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn added: "This is a great achievement by the seven supermarkets and their customers and it shows that by working together, we really can change our bag habits."

"The target of a 50 per cent reduction was only narrowly missed and retailers have really put a lot into this in the last six months."

Environmentalists say plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to disintegrate and pose threats to marine life, birds and other animals.

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