// Morrisons to remove all plastic ‘bags for life’ from every store
// Customers will be able to purchase its paper bags
// Paper bags will cost 30p and be available alongside other reusable options
Morrisons has said it will remove all plastic ‘bags for life’ from every store nationwide following a successful trial, saving 3200 tonnes of plastic per year.
The Big 4 grocer’s initiative comes after it removed its single use plastic bags in 2017.
Customers will now instead be able to purchase its paper bags which are reusable, recyclable, water resistant, tear resistant and can hold up to 16kg.
READ MORE: Morrisons phases out plastic More cards and shifts to mobile app
The paper bags have a lower carbon footprint than Morrisons’ plastic equivalent.
Paper bags will cost 30p and be available alongside other reusable options including string, jute, cotton and reusable woven bags, priced between 75p and £2.50.
The removal of the plastic ‘bags for life’ will be phased and will begin in Scotland this month, followed by England and Wales over the course of the next year.
Almost 100 million plastic bags will be removed in total, which is 1.9 million a week.
“We have been listening hard to our customers over the past year and we know that they are passionate about doing their bit to keep plastics out of the environment,” Morrisons chief executive David Potts said.
“Removing all of the plastic bags from our supermarkets is a significant milestone in our sustainability programme.”
Customers who order their shopping online via Morrisons.com will also receive their delivery without plastic bags in cases where the order is packed in a Morrisons store.
Single use 5p carrier bags were removed from Morrisons in 2018 but some customers continue to buy plastic ‘bags for life’, which are stronger and thicker.
An increase of price to 50p was introduced to Morrisons plastic ‘bags for life’ in December 2020.
Since 2017, Morrisons has removed and made recyclable over 10,000 tonnes of plastic, and is on track to hit its 50 per cent plastic reduction target by 2025.
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