Could You Live Without Plastic?

Well I don't think I could, but this is the aim of a challenge by the BBC's Christine Jeavans. Not an easy task on your own but with an 18 month-old baby, near impossible. Plus you could be amazed at just what contains plastic. Find out if she has been able to survive on the new Month Without Plastic Blog. The month is almost over, but you can still read the last 28 days trials and tribulations and get up-to-date, plus lots of information and statistics.

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Tesco Launch New Recycled Plastic Bag

Tesco have launched their new Cath Kidston 'stripe' bag, you can get it in store from Monday 18th August. This new addition follows hot on the heels of the first two bags, 'multi floral' and 'blue spot', which launched in early July. Cath Kidston’s stunning bag designs for Tesco are great to look at as well as eco friendly, and they will donate 50p to Marie Curie Cancer Care for each one sold!

Just because you want to be green doesn’t mean you can’t be fun and stylish, the stunning range of re-usable bags created for Tesco by leading designer Cath Kidston are perfect for all your shopping and an alternative to plastic carrier bags. The bags are available in all Tesco Superstores and Extras. Three further vintage prints will be available later in the year. They’re just £3.50 each, but stocks are limited.

What’s more, for each bag sold, Tesco will give 50p to charity, Marie Curie Cancer Care. There will be no profit going to Tesco or Cath Kidston Ltd and we are guaranteeing that a minimum of £250,000 will be raised for this superb charitable cause.

Each bag is made out of nine recycled 500ml plastic bottles. Just like the school clothes we mentioned in today's earlier post, we are giving tesco far too much space. And, of course, every time you re-use these (or any other) bags at Tesco we’ll give you Green Clubcard Points to say thank you.

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Reduce Plastic Bag Use by 70% ... Or Else!

I like it when the government give ultimatiums and idle threats, usually then to forget about them by the deadline or go back on what they originally wanted to achieve in the first place. It doesn't fill me full of confidence really, as this is not the first time that the government has asked the big four (supermarkets, that is) to reduce the number of plastic carrier bags they give to customers by 70 per cent by next spring. The Government has warned stores that a failure to do so voluntarily will trigger a change in the law to put an end to the distribution of free throwaway bags.

'When we met retailers recently, we told them we thought a reduction of 70 per cent would be a ball-park figure. That is the order of reduction. If the reduction can be achieved voluntarily, then excellent. If it can't, we will impose charges. We know that is what the public wants.'
Joan Ruddock, Environment Minister

The target was revealed by Environment minister Joan Ruddock yesterday at a press conference with the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which is funded by the Government to tackle waste, to highlight how stores and manufacturers are tackling excess packaging.

The proposals have the support of all the major political party leaders and leading figures in the administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Tesco Reduce 72m Plastic Bags in Northern Ireland
Charge For Plastic Bags ... or Else!

Tesco Save 72m Bags in Northern Ireland

Tesco customers in Northern Ireland have saved 72m plastic carrier bags in the last two years since implementing "Green Clubcard" points scheme in July 2006.

The scheme allows you to reuse your old plastic bags from any retailer, a bag for life, or any other receptical to carry your goods away, in exchange for avoiding the use of a single use bag you can collect recieve a clubcard point. Often at the discretion of the customer service staff.

This figure would represent a saving of 491 tonnes of bags, across the two years of the scheme, or 20 bags per person per year, approximately a 12% reduction in the annual bags used in Northern Ireland, and from just one retailer. Nationwide, the campaign has lead to a reduction of approximately 1.5 billion bags since inception.

Darling, It's Too Little Too Late

Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled his first budget yesterday, however, many environmental groups have called on the inadequacy for environmental protection contained within the announcement.

The key announcements contained in the budget are;

Environment

• 2p increase in fuel duty is postponed until October this year, and rise by 0.5p per litre in real terms in 2010
  
• £950 "showroom" tax from April 2010 for the most polluting vehicles
• £800 million environment fund to work with the United States, Japan and other countries as well as the World Bank to fund clean technologies in developing countries
• First Carbon budgets to 2022 will be announced alongside the Budget next year
• Energy Bill will allow the tripling of renewable electricity by 2015
• Introduce legislation to impose a charge on single-use plastic bags, if we have not seen sufficient progress on a voluntary basis. Legislation would come into force in 2009 and based on other countries' experience, it could lead to a 90 percent reduction, with around 12 billion fewer plastic bags in circulation. The money raised should go to environmental charities
• Cavity wall insulation for nearly three million homes. Loft insulation, more energy efficient appliances and light bulbs
• £26 million funding next year for a Green Homes Service to help people cut their carbon emissions and their fuel bills
• Smart meters to medium and large companies over the next five years
• Non-domestic buildings will become zero-carbon from 2019
• Biofuel duty differential will be replaced by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
• Reforming capital allowances for business cars to increase the incentive to move to lower emitting cars
• Air passenger duty scrapped in favour of flight tax

Energy

• Increase in Social Energy Tariff from Energy Companies to £150m, up from £50m
• 5m Customers on PrePay Meters to be given fairer Energy Pricing
• Increase in Winter fuel payment for over 60s from £200 to £250 and for the over 80s from £300 to £400

Whilst some of the efforts of the chancellor are certainly welcomed, it is a disappointment that he has not chosen to implement these changes immediately, with some measures not being introduced for over two years.

The additional resources for improving energy efficiency in homes and business and increased revenue for the Green Homes Service provided by the Energy Saving Trust will also assist reduce energy use. However with the assistance provided to those on social energy tariffs and Winter fuel payments, energy use may increase. I believe that to ensure that these are paid or reductions given to the householder, they must have had a free home energy inspection. This will highlight the need for loft and / or cavity wall insulation or other energy saving methods, those who meet specific criteria should (as already happens) have these installed for free, those that do not fall into these categories should have the measures installed for free in place of the fuel payment.

I hope the threat to impose charges on plastic bags is followed through as this is what is needed to dissuade their use to levels which otherwise through voluntary methods would be unattainable.

What do you think about the budget?

Gordon Brown: Charge for Plastic Bags ... or Else

Gordon Brown writing for the Daily Mail today has announced plans that if UK retailers can not reduce their reliance on plastic bags over the next year he will enact plans to introduce a mandatory charge on each bag, and reveal the revenue generated.

The Prime Minister will introduce legislation next month to impose a charge of 5p or even more on all giveaway bags next year if they fail to comply. Yesterday, the trade body which represents 33,000 convenience stores said they are ready to accept a plastic bag tax in a bid to reduce the number handed out.

Supermarket Tesco used 3bn plastic bags last year. It does not charge for them, instead offering bonuses such as extra clubcard points if they re-use bags. A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said the supermarket had a policy of encouraging its customers to "reduce, reuse and recycle". She also said that since April 2007 there had been a 10% reduction in the number of free plastic bags given out, which is the equivalent of 85m bags. A spokesman for Asda said it was on target to reduce the environmental impact of its carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008.

"I am convinced we need to act - and the time to act is now. I have already made clear that over time, we should aim to eliminate the single-use plastic bag altogether."
Gordon Brown

A voluntary agreement brokered by the Government to reduce the use of plastic bags by 25 per cent is behind target. Official figures show the number of bags issued by retailers has fallen by only 7.4 per cent in a year. The written feature in today's Daily Mail follows on from yesterday's announcement by Marks & Spencer to introduce a five pence per bag charge nationwide after trials in Northern Ireland and Southwest England. The trial saw a reduction in plastic bag use by 70% and raised substantial funds for environmental charity Groundworks Northern Ireland.

"The company wanted to make it easy for our customers to do their bit to help the environment. On top of this, our customers will be raising valuable funds to go to our partner charity, Groundwork, to invest in much-needed green spaces in our neighbourhoods".
Sir Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer

The plastic bag is a blight on our environment, to find out more reasons on why plastic and paper bags damage our environment check out Paper or Plastic?

Gordon Brown Outlines Climate Plans

Download the Speech (MP3)
Read the Speech
Watch Some of the Speech

Gordon Brown has outlined his plans for the British fight against climate change, fronted by a "green hotline" to advise people on how they can reduce their impact on the environment. The new Green Home Service, a website, telephone hotline and advice centres will be a "one-stop-shop" for advice and information on a range of issues including reducing waste and saving water.


In essence this seems like a government funded carbon copy of the independent Energy Saving Trust, and whilst I'm sure the Green Home Service will provide a competent and worthy service to the public on a range more diverse than currently captured by the EST. It still remains that people will need to seek advice before they change their habits, rather than implementing legislation, funding nationwide initiatives, or implementing voluntary agreements with retailers which forces change. Within his speech he cited that a third of households in the UK will be offered assistance to make carbon reductions in the next three years, equivalent to about 2.2 million homes per year. Potentially leading to reductions of 6m tonnes of CO2 per year by 2010, or 1.1% of total UK CO2 emissions.

"I believe it will require no less than a fourth technological revolution. In the past the steam engine, the internal combustion engine, the microprocessor transformed not just technology but the way our society has been organised and the way people live. Now we're about to embark on a comparable technological transformation to low carbon energy and energy efficiency and this represents an immense challenge to Britain, but it is also an opportunity."
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, United Kingdom

In addition to the new information service, there was also plans to further co-operation with other countries including Japan and the US to establish a new "funding framework", to help developing countries adjust to low carbon growth, adapt to climate change and tackle deforestation.


In recent months the government has come under increased scrutiny over reports published regarding its commitment to, and likely failure in meeting targets regarding renewable energy. Currently approximately 5% of UK energy is provided by renewable energy sources, however Gordon Brown hit back at these critics stating Britain was absolutely committed to meeting our share of the EU's 2020 renewable energy target, further suggesting it could mean the UK will have to produce between 40 and 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. An exceptional target which almost seems pie in the sky to some. BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin said this would be "staggering", but he said that the government was seeking to negotiate down the EU target.


However this part of the speech will be seriously considered tomorrow as Gordon Brown's government reveals whether consent has been granted to a new coal fired power plant in Kingsmill, Kent (beside an existing inefficient coal-fired power plant). The existing power plant provides up to 7.5% of the UK's current electricity demand by burning 750 tonnes of coal per hour. The proposed new power plant from electricity company E.on would improve efficiency by 20%, equating to carbon emission savings of 2m tonnes a year, however if the proposal is rejected the existing plant will need to close as it will not meet with legislation regarding emissions. This is a scenario facing half of UK coal fired power stations. With the closure of nine nuclear power plants over the next ten years this will result in a reduction in production of electricity of 30%. Eyes will be carefully watching the news tomorrow to hear the result.


There was many other initiatives mentioned in the Climate Change Bill regarding consultation with the British Retail Consortium to phase out plastic bags, a major expansion that will see five million more homes offered discounts of up to 100% on cavity or loft insulation, and another three million offered cheap or free low-energy light bulbs and other appliances. Over the next decade, every household will be offered a smart meter that shows people the true extent of their energy use, encouraging frugality.


With the suggested measures it seems difficult that these will equate to a faction of the 60% reduction in CO2 emissions proposed by 2050.


The reactions to the speech have been varied with quotable regular Philip Sellwood, Chief of the Energy Saving Trust commenting on his blog;

"This Green Homes Service will form the first genuine one-stop-shop for citizens to access advice on all matters 'green' - whether that is energy efficiency, renewable energy, travel, water efficiency and waste reduction. At a time when both Government and particularly Defra's budgets are under such pressure, credit must go to Defra for holding out for this additional funding over the next three years. Sorry if this sounds a bit like I'm being a cheer leader for Hilary Benn, but sometimes even the Government gets things right! I know that's not a very fashionable view these days, but let's at least give a small round of applause on this dark, grey and wet Tuesday!"
View Greener Homes Are In Sight!

Other Reactions to the Prime Ministers Speech;

"Six months in the job of prime minister, and Brown has finally got around to talking about climate change. Whilst I welcome plans to consider tightening the 60% target, the government is playing catch-up - and asking another committee to look at the figures won't help. To make real headway on curbing our emissions, we need to act now. We do not have time for yet more commissions and reviews, for more political delay. Today's speech was sorely lacking in real measures to reduce our emissions."
Caroline Lucas, Green Party


"In March, Tony Blair committed the government to an EU target for 20% of Europe's energy to come from renewables. Since then the government - and particularly the dinosaurs in the DBERR (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) have tried to wriggle out of it. It is good to see Gordon Brown recommit to this and get the renewables revolution back on track."
Keith Allott, WWF UK


"It's good news that the government will not renege on its EU renewable energy targets. But we need to look at the small print to see whether Mr Brown is really prepared to meet 20% of our energy from renewables without counting nuclear power as the French are doing. The government blithely talks of the opportunities created by green industries yet refuses to promote fledgling initiatives properly. Boasts of a new Green Home Service seem shallow when recent cuts to the New Millennium Grants will dissuade many homeowners from installing energy saving measures in their homes."
Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrats


"After a summer of lobbying, wriggling and confusion, the government's apparent change of heart on renewable power is fantastic news, but will only be credible if new policies emerge to actually meet targets. Britain lags a long way behind most of our European neighbours on renewable power, despite having the greatest wind, wave and tidal resource in Europe. We should be able to contribute our fair share of the EU-wide renewable energy commitment and source at least 20% of our energy from renewables by 2020."
Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth


"It's positive that the prime minister has raised the bar ahead of the Bali conference by talking about an 80% cut in UK carbon emissions by 2050. Oxfam believes that only an 80% cut in rich countries' emissions will be enough to stop the worst impacts of climate change. The world's poorest people - already hard hit by climate change - depend upon rich countries like the UK moving first and fastest to set a clear course for a low carbon economy."
Phil Bloomer, Oxfam

Tesco Green Clubcard Point Rant

I am a Tesco shopper, mainly as it is one of the closest large supermarkets to my home. I have always used reusable carrier bags, since before the launch of Green Clubcard Points. At my local Tesco however Green Clubcard Points are not what they seem, as often I have left the store without the points being added, whilst this is not an issue for me (it's just an added benefit to being green), it just seems that Tesco are not keeping their promises, and that some who solely make use of the Green Clubcard Points offer as their main reason to reuse bags will simply stop. Going on the 4% rule (which normally refers to restaurants), where only about 4% of people actually complain, the other 96% might just simply never return or in this case reuse bags. Whilst I am criticising Tesco in relation to one store I'm sure this is just an oversight by some staff, and the green efforts by Tesco are highly commendable.

On a another note, Sainsbury's were giving out free bags for life all weekend. They might still have some left in store tht you could blag. Their efforts have helped to reduce 750 tonnes of plastic bags going to landfill.

Tesco Offer "Naked" Deliveries

Today Tesco announced in an email campaign to their online shopping users that they will be implementing "naked" deliveries. The email titled "Naked Deliveries and Half Price Fruit and Vegetables!" points out "It's not our drivers who might be naked, it's our shopping without bags. Our customers told us that we use too many carrier bags so we're doing something about it."

Tesco are showing their commitment to continually reduce the 18 billion carrier bags we use per year in the UK and this is why they have implemented this new addition to their delivery service. This new feature to their Green Clubcard Points scheme has been long overdue with some websites touting Tesco used on average one bag for every two and a half items. When ordering if you decide to opt for "naked" deliveries, you will be rewarded with Green Clubcard Points. 1 Green Clubcard Point for every 10 items ordered.

The service has been available for two years for customers in Ireland.

"Delivery without bags is both a win for our customers and the environment."
Laura Wade-Gery, Tesco.com

They do note however in their FAQ, "It is important to think carefully before selecting to have your delivery without bags, particularly in the following situations:

• You prefer the driver not to come into your home and therefore normally have your shopping unloaded at the doorstep.
• You live in a property that is difficult for your driver to access with green trays."

For More Information visit Tesco.com

M&S Begins Distribution of Bags For Life

After it was announced last month that Marks & Spencer to Charge for Plastic Bags they have implemented the inital stages of the program with distribution of free "Bags for Life" in their stores in Northern Ireland. The above is one of the three designs by the illustrator David Downton. For more information visit "Plan A".

Marks & Spencer to Charge for Plastic Bags

It was announced today that Marks & Spencer will be implementing a trial at their Northern Ireland stores to charge customers for each plastic bag used. The charge which will be imposed from 1st July will be five pence per bag. To ensure customers are given a fair deal, from 4th to 14th June, M&S will distribute a "Bag for Life" to all customers in it's food halls. The bags will be produced from recycled material and will come in three designs by the illustrator David Downton.

If the trial is a success the scheme will be rolled out across the rest of the UK. When the Republic of Ireland introduced their plastic bag tax in March 2002, this saw plastic bag use initially fall 95% and generate an annual income of 10m Euro for environmental projects. However, the five pence will not be going into the pockets of M&S, who today also posted a 28.5% increase in annual pre-tax profit to £965.2m. The money will be donated to Groundwork Northern Ireland, the money raised will help fund projects that will address evironmental issues.

"We have all got into the habitof using too many carrier bags and we want to explore how we can encourage people to change their behaviour"
Neil Hyslop, Divisional Executive for Ireland, Marks & Spencer

The introduction of a charge on plastic bags is part of M&S's drive, called "Plan A", towards ethical trading and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The five-year scheme will see M&S become carbon neutral, stop sending waste to landfill and extend its sustainable sourcing by 2012.

The news has been greeted by many who believe that the tax is a step in the right direction towards a UK tax on plastic bag, and this as Hong Kong also implements a tax on plastic bags of $0.50 or about three pence. However, all this legislation does not include paper bags which as we have seen from the article "Paper or Plastic?" has just as much if not a larger impact environmentally. Should we tax paper as well as plastic?

Paper or Plastic?

Never has the issue of how we pack our groceries been such a hot topic, with supporters for plastic and paper pushing their side, in addition to this we now have many stores stocking canvas bags as the next solution to reducing our dependance on paper and plastic bags. So which is the best solution? I've been researching each to find the related pros and cons, and would love to hear your arguements in the comments section of what you use and why.

Having already previously touched on plastic bag reduction last month in the article "Would You Like a Bag?" but not really gone into much detail. Plastic has long been used in the UK, and is used by the majority of shopping outlets, big and small from cornershop to supermarket. Plastic grocery bags consume 40% less energy to produce, 80% less transport energy and generate 80% less solid waste than paper bags. However, plastic bags can take 1,000 years to decompose compared to paper bags which take about a month to decompose (not if they are landfilled). In addition as plastic bags degrade in landfill the bags can emit toxins to the soil. A fact from the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that if every New York City resident used one less plastic bag a year, it would result in a saving of 2 250 tonnes of waste and $250 000 in disposal costs.

To combat the ill effects of plastic a sturdy, reusable bag can be obtained from many stores, including Tesco and needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags. Tesco launched a scheme last year to reward UK shoppers who manage to work their way through 18 billion bags a year. A shopper gains a loyalty point for each, bag, box, wheelbarrow or other receptical that they bring with them to carry their goods home.

Co-op was the first supermarket in the UK to make use of biodegradable shopping bags to replace the plastic bags that they had previously used, these have the benefits of plastic bags without the environmental impact, however this does come at a cost to the organisation. On 1st May 2007, the town of Modbury became, what they believe the first town in Europe to be plastic bag free. All 43 local traders agreed that they would no longer offer plastic bags and instead only use 100% biodegradable corn-starch bags, recycled paper bags or reusable cotton or jute bags.

So what about paper bags, are they as friendly as they are made out to be, their popularity has fallen since the introduction of plastic bags in 1977. Paper bags are made from trees, which are a renewable resource, however they many not be sourced from sustainable forests. Most plastic bags are made from polyethylene, which is made from crude oil and natural gas, nonrenewable resources. Paper bags now accounts for less than 20% of all bags used in USA. As stated before paper bags are alot heavier, 2000 plastic bags weigh 30 pounds, 2000 paper bags weigh 280 pounds. Paper therefore requires more transport energy and more landfill space.

It takes 91 percent less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper, and in manufacture more than four times as much energy to produce a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag. The energy required to produce the bags (in British thermal units): Safeway plastic bags: 594 BTU; Safeway paper bags: 2511 BTU. Statistics show that in reality a higher proportion of paper bags are recycled than plastic. But 80% of paper bags were still sent to landfill, and to add to this current research demonstrates that paper in landfills does not biodegrade at a rate substaintially faster than plastic. In fact, nothing completely degrades in modern landfills due to the lack of water, light, oxygen, and other important elements that are necessary for the degradation process to be completed.

So what is the solution, to the question Paper or Plastic?, the real answer is neither. Reusable canvas totes seem to have been adopted by many environmentalists as the real solution to the problem, and not only are they environmentally friendly they are the latest fashion accessory adorned by celebrities. This has caused loads of stores online and offline to start selling the bags and prices can range from $3 - $24. So if you want to get canvas tote bags without the price tag, I will be posting an article on how to make your own, with a video on You Tube very soon. In addition I will be giving away a few freebies too.

What Do Those Numbers On Plastic Mean?

Plastics are one of the most difficult items to recycle in terms of collection and sorting. There are hundreds of variations of plastic, they can be recycled, however not all plastics can be remade into the original product. Plastic drinks bottles (PET), for example, come back to life as plant pots or garden seats which cannot be recycled a second time.

There are 7 main classifications which are known as resin codes and these are found on most plastic items that can be recycled. But more often than not they are sent to landfill as the facilities to process them are unavailable. Most UK council areas offer doorstep recycling, but this is often limited to PET bottles and HDPE. Other plastics are just not feasible environmentally or financially.

So what do the resin codes mean;

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
   Used in water and soft drinks bottles
   
   
2. High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)
   Used in milk and water containers, and detergent bottles
   
   
3. Polyvinyl Chloride (flexible, pPVC)
   Used in soft plastic wrapping
   Polyvinyl Chloride (rigid, uPVC)
   Used in window frames and car components
   
   
4. Low-den-sity Polyethylene (LDPE)
   Used in shopping bags and bin liners
   
   
5. Polypropylene (PP)
   Used in rigid containers such as yoghurt pots
   
   
6. Polystyrene (PS)
   Used in insulated food containers
   
   
7. All Other Plastics
   Not always marked
   
   

The options for recycling and processing plastic waste is unavailable in most areas in the UK, resulting in under 9% of all plastics being recycled. Plastics are derived from energy resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, so any material recovered is an energy savings. 90% of the manufacturing process energy needs to produce new plastics is saved by recycling. Those that are not recycled ultimately end in our landfills leaking additives such as phthalates into the water supply. If they are incinerated some plastics release chlorine into the atmosphere and leave heavy metals in the incineration ash. We should all try to reduce our plastic usage and search for environmentally sound packaging solutions to rival the current inadequate solutions.

Would you like a bag?

"By throwing away ten billion carrier bags each year and transporting carrots from Egypt and strawberries from New Zealand, we hit the environment hard."

Lord Whitty, National Consumer Council Chairman

The once humble plastic bag has become the menace of all-things green in the UK, with 10 billion bags* used each year (up from 8 billion four years ago). Since March 2002, Ireland has imposed a 15 euro cent (nine-pence tax per bag), the direct effect of such a tax was an immediate reduction in plastic bag use (as much as 98% in some retail stores), customers now turn up "pre-armed" with a clutch of polythene bags. However last year, 2006, saw the first increase in plastic bag use prompting suggestion in February that the tax should increase. In 2002, the UK government discussed the introduction of a similar tax in the UK, however this has to date not been implemented.

So why has revolt against the plastic bag taken hold. At the same time as Ireland imposed their plastic bag tax, it was less well-known another country banned polythene bags completely. Bangladesh, imposed the ban after it was revealed they were a major contributor to the 1988 and 1998 floods which submerged two-thirds of the country.

Taiwan (which used 20 billion bags a year) eventually banned the bag in 2003, in an effort to reduce plastic waste by 30%, as the islands landfills neared capacity. In addition, around the world animals are mistaking the bags for food, in India cows have been reported to ingest them leading to death. Tortoises are known to mistake them for jellyfish.

So if it wasn't the fact they cause floods, kill cows, blow in the wind across the countryside ... they fill landfills, and they stay there for about 1000 years.

"There are problems and challenges we face looking after the environment that we have all got to address."
Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco Chief Executive

So what are UK stores doing to reduce plastic bag use, Tesco announced last August that is would offer incentives to its 13 million club card holders who reused plastic bags, a bag for life or any other means to carry their purchases. The scheme was attached to a huge advertising campaign, and they hope to reduce the number of bags used by 1 billion. This should save approximately 200 000 tonnes of Co2 emissions, the equivalent to 72 000 cars being taken off the road.

M&S chief executive, Stuart Rose announced at the start of this year its £200m plan to become a carbon neutral company down to the last plastic bag.

In 2002, Co-Op introduced the first 100% bio-degradable carrier bags, they have since moved all their packaging to bio degradable materials.

If you work in the retailer sector, you may consider asking the consumer, "Would you like a bag?"


For more information on the debate please read "Paper or Plastic?"

Environmental overview for the UK's leading supermarkets;
Asda
Co-Op
M&S
Sainsbury's
Somerfield
Tesco
Waitrose

* The current figure of UK plastic bag use varies by source from 10 to 17 billion. 10 billion figure was used as previous published figures from four years previous was 8 billion from the same source.