Tesco is set to do away with 5p single-use carrier bags all together after a successful 10-week trial in Aberdeen, Norwich and Dundee.
From August 28, the UK‘s largest retailer will replace the single use plastic bags with 10p Bags for Life made from 94 per cent recycled plastic.
It found during its recent trial that removing the choice to buy single use carrier bags helps “significantly reduce the number of bags sold”.
The Bags for Life will be replaced if they are damaged and the proceeds from the sales will be put towards community projects across the country.
The news comes after the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs revealed that Tesco customers use more than twice that of Asda and Sainsbury‘s customers put together in a year.
Despite this, Tesco has sold 1.5 billion fewer plastic bags since the introduction of the bag charge in 2015.
The total number of plastic bags being used also dropped 83 per cent after the charge was introduced.
READ MORE: Numbers of one-use plastic bags drops by nearly 90 per cent a year on
The retailer will also be removing single use wine carriers and the price of its “Carry me bottle bag” will be reduced by more than half.
Single use bags will still be available for online orders, but 57 per cent of online customers already reportedly opt for bagless delivery.
“The number of bags being bought by our customers has already reduced dramatically,” Tesco UK boss Matt Davies said.
“Today‘s move will help our customers use even fewer bags but ensure that those sold in our stores continue to fund thousands of community projects across the country chosen by customers.
“It‘s the right thing to do for the environment and for local communities.”
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