Retailers just miss plastic bag target

UK consumers are still using 372 million plastic bags a month – but this is a reduction of 48 per cent compared to May 2006, when 718 million bags were given out by high street supermarkets.

The reduction in single use, carrier bags is due to a voluntary agreement undertaken by seven high street supermarkets with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in December 2008 to achieve a 50 per cent cut in the number of bags they give out compared with 2006 figures. 

The signatory retailers to the 50 per cent voluntary bag reduction target agreement were; Asda, Co-operative Group (now incorporating Somerfield), Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.  The agreement was also made with the Welsh Assembly Government, the Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: “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.  This means that several hundred million fewer carrier bags are going to landfill every month and we’re using less raw materials to make them, which is great news. I look forward to seeing further reductions in the months ahead.”

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the reduction has been achieved by retailers using specific schemes they feel work best for their customers – backed by a consumer campaign funded by Defra. The cut has been achieved against a backdrop of a growing volume in sales for all the seven retailers involved (up five per cent between 2006 and 2008). The signatory companies account for more than three-quarters of the UK grocery market and therefore the majority of the UK's carrier bag usage.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: "Changing customer habits on this scale, this quickly, isn't easy. 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 our supermarket members - who've spent the money during these tough times to help this happen. These figures send a clear message: the voluntary approach is very successful and can lead to better informed customers and lasting change."

Progress will be reviewed in summer 2010 before deciding on next steps.