Disappointment at 7% drop in plastic bag use

On the day that Marks & Spencer announced a 5p levy on their bags (see letsrecycle.com story), the 21 retailers signed up to the Courtauld Commitment reported disappointing figures at a meeting held one year after they agreed to cut the environmental impact of bags by 25%.

One retailer even increased its use of virgin plastic material in bags by 22% over the year.

The Courtauld target could still be achieved by its deadline of the end of 2008, insisted WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

But, the government-funded body overseeing the Courtauld Commitment said it was “disappointed” at the retailers' performances on bags so far, and demanded more action.

WRAP's director of retail, Richard Swannell, who chaired yesterday's meeting, said: “WRAP wants to see a substantial reduction in the environmental impact of free single use carrier bags. Today's meeting and recent developments show that there is now clear momentum from retailers although clearly more work needs to be done.

Compulsion

Although the Commitment is a voluntary measure for the grocery sector, the government warned in its English Waste Strategy last year that if voluntary measures do not work, they could look to enforce compulsory systems.

And Prime Minister Gordon Brown reinforced this message writing in the Daily Mail this morning, stating: “I want to make it clear that if government compulsion is needed to make the change, we will take the necessary steps. We do not take such steps lightly – but the damage that single-use plastic bags inflict on the environment is such that strong action must be taken.”

WRAP has said that based on data provided by retailers, the total number used by the 21 retailers in the first year of the agreement dropped by one billion bags from 13.4 billion to 12.4 billion – a 7% drop in the number of bags used.

The virgin polymer used was 93,000 tonnes in 2007, down from 108,000 tonnes in 2006 – a 14.3% decrease in materials used.

“We are also disappointed that there has not been more progress on the actual number of bags reduced. Therefore, while the 14% reduction achieved is broadly on track to reach the overall target by the end of the year, there is clearly no room for complacency,” WRAP warned.

The meeting saw the retailers discussing measures they have already tried for cutting down on bag use, ranging from loyalty points for customers using re-usable bags – such as the scheme tried by Tesco – as well as the dispensing of bags by cashiers only, and the use of recycled content in bags, which has been tried by retailers like Sainsbury's.

Other schemes included the promotion of re-usable bags and the introduction of in-store bag recycling facilities, which many supermarkets now do, the number of in-store facilities increasing by 43% in the last year.

Mr Swannell said: “The carrier bag agreement between retailers and government is highlighting valuable examples of ways forward, such as the maximum reuse of carrier bags, the widespread adoption of bags for life and the use of recycled content in bags. These initiatives are helping to encourage us all to do things differently and think about alternatives to free carrier bags”.

Scotland

North of the border, Scotland's cabinet secretary for the environment, Richard Lochhead said he would be writing to Scottish retailers to ask what they are doing to meet the 25% target.

He said that if the current voluntary approach fails, his administration would look at bringing in laws to enforce a reduction in plastic bag use.

Mr Lochhead said: “We welcome any action by retailers to reduce waste from plastic bags. Charging for bags and giving a reward to customers when they return bags are two ways of doing this. I will be writing to Scottish retailers to ask precisely what action they are taking to deliver the target of a 25% reduction in the impact of carrier bags by the end of this year.”

“If the voluntary agreement doesn't produce results then we will have to look again at further action, including considering legislation,” he added.