Tesco figures show 80% drop in carrier bag usage

Dec 09, 2015

Supermarket giant Tesco has claimed that the use of single use plastic bags has fallen 78% since the introduction of the 5p charge.

The levy was introduced by the government in October and the retailer added that there was an 80% drop in the number of bags being taken home by supermarket shoppers.

More online shoppers are opting to cut down on the use of bags with “bagless” deliveries on the rise by 50%.

The environment minister Rory Stewart said: “Cutting the number of plastic bags we use is a small but vital step in reducing plastic waste. It will not only tidy up our towns and countryside,
it will also help protect our precious beaches and sea life.”

The reduction is in-line with the government’s top-end estimates of the impact of the levy.

Source: PackagingNews