Stores exceed target of reducing environmental impact of bags

Recently released figures from WRAP show that the UK's high street and supermarket stores have exceeded their voluntary target of reducing the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008. Retailers have shown a 40% reduction since 2006, by measuring the reduction of the amount of virgin plastic used.

The amount of carrier bags being given out reduced by 26%, from 13.4 billion to 9.9 billion in 2008. This coupled with increasing the amount of recycled content used in bags and reducing bag weight helped towards reaching and exceeding the target.

Related: Hand-sewn non-plastic supermarket bags | Extra extra! Cute new recycled newspaper bags | Cath Kidston charity shopping bags at Tesco

Wrap's chief executive, Liz Goodwin said: "Consumers deserve congratulations for these results as they clearly show we are moving away from using bags once to reusing bags often. They are also a credit to retailers who have worked hard to find innovative ways of helping us reuse our bags."

The target was launched in February 2007 between the UK government and industry. Retailers involved included Asda, Boots, Co-op Group, DSG International, Home Retail Group, John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Next, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

[Via: BeMoreEco]

Comments