Carrier bag usage continues to fall

Greenwise Staff

25th August 2010

The number of carrier bags issued by UK supermarkets has fallen by more than 40 per cent since 2006, according to figures released today by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

The fall was recorded across both 'single-use’ carrier bags and all reusable bags, which overall have seen a 4.5 billion reduction in use – representing 41 per cent cut – since 2006, when figures were first recorded, according to WRAP. The weight of bags handed out has also fallen by 42 per cent, or by 39,700 tonnes over the four years.

The WRAP data, which for the first time provides a total annual comparison rather than just a single month comparison, also shows the number of single use carrier bags distributed fell by nine per cent in 2010 compared to 2009. However, a spot check in May revealed their usage when up by five per cent compared to the same month last year.

Commenting on the figures, a WRAP spokesperson said: "Overall the picture is good, although there was a spike in May, which is hard to explain."

Voluntary agreement

The figures released today follow a voluntary agreement undertaken by seven high street supermarkets with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in December 2008. Then, they pledged to achieve a 50 per cent cut in the number of bags they gave out by July 2009 compared to 2006. That target was narrowly missed last year, when supermarkets achieved a 48 per cent reduction. This year no such target was set but supermarkets agreed to share their figures with independent monitor WRAP.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) described today’s figures as vindication of the voluntary agreement and "a tremendous achievement" in light of supermarkets’
sales volumes rising by more than six per cent over the same period.

"The continuous decrease in total annual bag use demonstrates the voluntary approach continues to make good progress through individual retailer initiatives that take customers with them," said Stephen Robertson, BRC director general.

Wales, which has seen the biggest reduction in carrier bag usage across the UK since 2006, is planning to introduce a mandatory charge on carrier bags next year.

The participating supermarkets in the voluntary UK bag reduction initiative are Asda, Co-operative Group, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.