UK supermarket chain Tesco (Welwyn Garden City / UK; www.tescoplc.com) has announced it will phase out sales of its single-trip 5p plastic carrier bags across the UK on 28 August and replace them with more durable "bags for life" costing 10p. The decision comes after a 10-week trial in which shoppers in Aberdeen, Dundee and Norwich / UK were offered the choice of bringing their own bags or buying bags for life. The trial led to a 25% drop in bag sales, the chain said. Tesco currently sells about 700m of the disposable bags per year, which is said to be more than most major supermarkets. Sainsbury's made the switch earlier.

Under legislation that came into effect between 2011 (Wales) and October 2015 (England), UK retailers have been charging for plastic bags. Wales, the first to introduce the fee, reported a 71% decline in the number of bags used (see Plasteurope.com of 14.09.2015). Northern Ireland began charging in 2013, followed by Scotland in 2014. England, the last to charge for bags, reported an 83% decline in consumption.

The 10p bags made from 94% recycled plastic will be exchanged without charge when damaged, Tesco said. The supermarket’s online customers can still take deliveries in single-use plastic bags, but almost half already are said to choose a bagless delivery. Similar to schemes introduced with the first charges, Tesco said its intake from sale of the bags for life will fund grants for community projects. Up to now, the chain said it has donated GBP 33m (EUR 36.5m) to more than 6,400 charities.