UK shoppers are currently using 346 million fewer carrier bags than three years ago, according to new figures published today.
The count reveals the number of bags being handed out has almost halved from 718 million in May 2006 to 372 million this year.
Last December, seven leading high-street supermarkets, including Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Asda, signed up to the Government's voluntary agreement to achieve a 50 percent cut in the number of bags they give out compared with 2006 figures.
Plastic bags are harmful to the environment because they cannot be recycled, take a long time to decompose and pose a threat to wildlife.
Welcoming the drop, 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 percent 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.”
Asda's environmental spokesperson Karen Todd said it was possible to influence shoppers' habits without the need for legislation, which is being proposed in Wales.
She added: “Over the past year or so, we’ve invested £3 million to help our customers change the habit of a lifetime, including in a number of in-store incentives like free 'bag for life' giveaways.
"As a result we've cut the number of single-use bags our customers use each week by 53 percent, smashing the Government target set last year. This result is even more impressive given the increase in customers we now serve each week.
"It has been achieved without the need to charge people, proving that education and incentives are the most effective approach.
“We are fundamentally opposed to charging customers for plastic bags. Imposing a 15p bag tax on shoppers in Wales is totally unjustified and would hit the poorest hardest."
The government survey found that if the level of usage continued for a year this would be equivalent to an annual consumption of 5.6 billion single use bags, compared to 10.7 billion in 2006.
Dr Liz Goodwin, CEO of the government's recycling quango WRAP, said: “The overall 48% reduction in single use carrier bags by the participating retailers demonstrates the continued rate of progress in this area, despite falling just short of the target figure.
“WRAP will continue to work alongside industry to deliver further reductions.”
mark, YIWU around 1 year, 1 month ago