Reduce plastic bag usage
(Date:2011-08-12)
packagingnews.co.uk
M&S: Charges are the only way to reduce plastic bag usage
Charging for plastic bags is the only way to deliver meaningful reductions in the billions handed out at tills every year, according to Marks & Spencer sustainability director Richard Gillies.
M&S was the first major high street chain to introduce charging in May 2008 and charges 5p for its main plastic bags.
‘Our experience’
M&S sustainable business and Plan A director Richard Gillies said: “From our experience, the only way to significantly reduce carrier bag use is to charge.
“Our pre-charging trials showed that initiatives such as reminding customers to re-use, and removing readily available bags from till ends, does work, but will only deliver a 30-40% reduction. To go to the next level – 80% – we believe you have to charge.”
The number of carrier bags issued came down from more than 500m a year to around 90m, meaning almost one billion fewer have been used.
His comments follow the recent announcement by WRAP that carrier bag usage in the UK is on the increase. Figures from Wrap show that from June 2009 to May 2010 the UK used 6.1bn single-use carrier bags, whereas, from January 2010 to December 2010 it used 6.4bn.
Charities
M&S said that all the profits from the charges go to environmental charities.
All stores in Wales will have to add a 5p charge from 1 October, a similar scheme is being put forward in Northern Ireland and there is political pressure in Westminster and Scotland to follow suit.
Gillies said: “Despite our proven success, there are still people who question the environmental logic behind championing a carrier bag reduction campaign.
“They have many valuable arguments, but are missing an important point.
“What is so vitally important about carrier bags is that it is an opportunity for customers to play their part.
“We all know that we need to learn to use the world’s resources more carefully and, as individuals, take action where we can.”