Defra leads ‘ambitious’ cut in carrier bags
British retailers have pledged to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by a quarter by the end of next year.
As part of a joint initiative spearheaded by the Department for Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), retailers will aim to do so by encouraging customers to use fewer bags, reducing their environmental impact, for example by incorporating more recycled materials, and encouraging recycling.
Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 58,500 tonnes a year if the 25 per cent target is achieved, equivalent to taking 18,000 cars off the roads.
Local environment minister Ben Bradshaw described this as an “ambitious but very practical agreement”.
He said: “We are pleased that the retailers have agreed to work with us and UK consumers in such a positive way.
“Consumers are increasingly aware that they can make positive choices to help the environment in the way they shop. By signing up to this statement, the UK’s retailers have also committed to help their customers to reduce, reuse and recycle their carrier bags.”
The move follows pressure from environment ministers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and is supported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).
Nigel Smith, BRC director of environmental policy said: “Retailers are already rewarding re-use, promoting ‘bags for life’, using and developing alternative materials and trialling bigger bags that carry more shopping. They want to take that further.
“Twenty five per cent is an ambitious target for the industry as a whole. It will require the government’s support in encouraging customers to reduce, reuse, recycle and take an improved approach to household waste management.”
The signatories include Asda, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Boots. They will commit to monitor their progress jointly, before reviewing this in 2008 to see what further cuts can be achieved by 2010.
Friends of the Earth has welcomed the commitment but points to the shortcomings of a voluntary agreement.
Waste campaigner Anna Watson explained that past experience has shown voluntary initiatives are not effective and instead argued for a plastic bag tax, which she claims has worked in Ireland.
Plastic bag use is only part of the problem, Ms Watson added. Friends of the Earth is further calling on the government to ban all recyclable and compostable items from landfills.
