CARRIER BAGS
Carrier bag consumption in UK supermarkets rises 2.4% in 2014 / Usage falls sharply in those countries with mandatory charges / WRAP report
 Plastic bag checkout counter (Photo: IStockPhoto/Flander) |
The number of bags used by UK supermarkets rose by 2.4% to 9.0 bn last year, from 8.8 bn in 2003, according to a report published by UK-based Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP, Banbury; www.wrap.org.uk). This represents an 18.5% increase since the end of a voluntary agreement to reduce bags usage in 2009/2010, but a reduction of 28% on the 2006 baseline.
Approximately 95% of the bags are thin-gauge (or "single use") PE and paper bags, the remainder are reusable bags (or "bags for life") such as thicker gauge PE bags as well as cotton, jute and PP bags. The number of thin-gauge bags used in the UK rose by 2.3% to approximately 8.5 bn in 2014, from 8.3 bn in 2013. Thin-gauge bag use per capita has been increasing in the UK since 2009, to 11 bags per month in 2014, but is still lower than the 16.7 bags/month in 2006, says WRAP.
By weight, total carrier bag use rose by 1.8% to 68,600 t in 2014 from 67,300 t in 2013. The amount of virgin polymer used in all carrier bags declined by 4.5% in 2014 compared with 2013.
UK countries that have introduced a 5 pence mandatory charge on the use of plastic bags have seen a sharp fall in the number of plastic bags taken from supermarkets following the introduction of the levies. Charges have been in place in Wales since October 2011, in Northern Ireland since April 2013 and in Scotland since October 2014, and they will be introduced in England in October 2015. Between 2010 and 2014, the use of thin-gauge carrier bags rose in England but has decreased in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Wales and Northern Ireland now have more than a 1/3 rate of bag for life use, while the rate in Scotland is about 5% and in England about 2%. Bag for life use in England is rising, as consumers and retailers may be anticipating the introduction of the charging next month, says WRAP.
Commenting on the WRAP report, UK resource minister Rory Stewart said: “Countries with the 5 pence charge have seen a dramatic fall in the number of plastic bags taken from supermarkets and we can expect a significant reduction in England, possibly by as much as 80% in supermarkets and 50% on the high street.”
e-Service:
“UK voluntary carrier bag agreement – 2014 data” as a PDF file
Approximately 95% of the bags are thin-gauge (or "single use") PE and paper bags, the remainder are reusable bags (or "bags for life") such as thicker gauge PE bags as well as cotton, jute and PP bags. The number of thin-gauge bags used in the UK rose by 2.3% to approximately 8.5 bn in 2014, from 8.3 bn in 2013. Thin-gauge bag use per capita has been increasing in the UK since 2009, to 11 bags per month in 2014, but is still lower than the 16.7 bags/month in 2006, says WRAP.
By weight, total carrier bag use rose by 1.8% to 68,600 t in 2014 from 67,300 t in 2013. The amount of virgin polymer used in all carrier bags declined by 4.5% in 2014 compared with 2013.
UK countries that have introduced a 5 pence mandatory charge on the use of plastic bags have seen a sharp fall in the number of plastic bags taken from supermarkets following the introduction of the levies. Charges have been in place in Wales since October 2011, in Northern Ireland since April 2013 and in Scotland since October 2014, and they will be introduced in England in October 2015. Between 2010 and 2014, the use of thin-gauge carrier bags rose in England but has decreased in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Wales and Northern Ireland now have more than a 1/3 rate of bag for life use, while the rate in Scotland is about 5% and in England about 2%. Bag for life use in England is rising, as consumers and retailers may be anticipating the introduction of the charging next month, says WRAP.
Commenting on the WRAP report, UK resource minister Rory Stewart said: “Countries with the 5 pence charge have seen a dramatic fall in the number of plastic bags taken from supermarkets and we can expect a significant reduction in England, possibly by as much as 80% in supermarkets and 50% on the high street.”
e-Service:
“UK voluntary carrier bag agreement – 2014 data” as a PDF file
23.09.2015 Plasteurope.com [232224-0]
Published on 23.09.2015