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As Marks & Spencer gears up to introducing a carrier bag charge, it announced today that it has handed out over 15 million free reusable bags for life to customers across the UK* in the last month – the biggest single giveaway of reusable and recyclable bags for life by any retailer.
On Tuesday 6th May, M&S will introduce a 5p charge for its standard food carrier bags in all of its UK stores** in order to:
The national roll-out of carrier bag charging is a major step towards M&S’ Plan A commitments to aim to reduce carrier bag usage by a third and send no waste to landfill from its operations by 2012.
All profits generated from the charge will go to environmental charity Groundwork and be used to create or improve ‘greener living spaces’ such as parks, play areas and gardens in neighbourhoods around the UK***. It is expected that around 40 neighbourhoods will benefit in the next twelve months.
M&S is also making two additional changes to help reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags even further. From May onwards M&S:
M&S bags for life, which are also made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, will revert to their original price of 10p from 6th May. The bags for life will be replaced free of charge and recycled by M&S when worn out.
Stuart Rose, M&S Chief Executive said: “Our stores are now getting ready to introduce food carrier bag charging on 6th May. This will be one of the most significant changes we’ve made since we launched Plan A last January and we believe that it will help us to reduce the number of single use carrier bags our customers use by around 280 million each year.
“M&S customers have certainly responded extremely positively to our bag for life giveaway and we hope that they will bring the bags with them each time they shop with us.”
M&S has successfully trialled charging for food carrier bags in over 50 M&S stores in Northern Ireland and the South West of England in the last twelve months. The trials resulted in customers’ use of food carrier bags reducing by over 70% and raised over £80,000 for Groundwork. This money is now being invested in six projects across those regions including the development of the Daisy Hill Woodland in Newry, the creation of a play area at the Old Warren Community Centre in Lisburn and improving a green space at Woodhay Road in Plymouth.
-Ends- For more information on M&S, please contact:Clare Wilkes M&S 0208 718 8642Lucy Kelly M&S 0208 718 1980
For more information on Groundwork, please contact:Daisy Powell Groundwork 07703 535841
Notes to Editors
About Groundwork
The six M&S / Groundwork ‘greener living spaces’ projects currently underway are:
Northern Ireland:
Daisy Hill Woodland (Newry)
Glencairn Daycare Centre (Belfast)
Shantallow Community Recreation Project (Derry)
Old Warren Community Centre (Lisburn)
South West
Mancroft Park (Bristol)
Woodhay Road Garden Project (Plymouth)
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As Marks & Spencer gears up to introducing a carrier bag charge, it announced today that it has handed out over 15 million free reusable bags for life to customers across the UK* in the last month – the biggest single giveaway of reusable and recyclable bags for life by any retailer.
On Tuesday 6th May, M&S will introduce a 5p charge for its standard food carrier bags in all of its UK stores** in order to:
The national roll-out of carrier bag charging is a major step towards M&S’ Plan A commitments to aim to reduce carrier bag usage by a third and send no waste to landfill from its operations by 2012.
All profits generated from the charge will go to environmental charity Groundwork and be used to create or improve ‘greener living spaces’ such as parks, play areas and gardens in neighbourhoods around the UK***. It is expected that around 40 neighbourhoods will benefit in the next twelve months.
M&S is also making two additional changes to help reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags even further. From May onwards M&S:
M&S bags for life, which are also made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, will revert to their original price of 10p from 6th May. The bags for life will be replaced free of charge and recycled by M&S when worn out.
Stuart Rose, M&S Chief Executive said: “Our stores are now getting ready to introduce food carrier bag charging on 6th May. This will be one of the most significant changes we’ve made since we launched Plan A last January and we believe that it will help us to reduce the number of single use carrier bags our customers use by around 280 million each year.
“M&S customers have certainly responded extremely positively to our bag for life giveaway and we hope that they will bring the bags with them each time they shop with us.”
M&S has successfully trialled charging for food carrier bags in over 50 M&S stores in Northern Ireland and the South West of England in the last twelve months. The trials resulted in customers’ use of food carrier bags reducing by over 70% and raised over £80,000 for Groundwork. This money is now being invested in six projects across those regions including the development of the Daisy Hill Woodland in Newry, the creation of a play area at the Old Warren Community Centre in Lisburn and improving a green space at Woodhay Road in Plymouth.
-Ends- For more information on M&S, please contact:Clare Wilkes M&S 0208 718 8642Lucy Kelly M&S 0208 718 1980
For more information on Groundwork, please contact:Daisy Powell Groundwork 07703 535841
Notes to Editors
About Groundwork
The six M&S / Groundwork ‘greener living spaces’ projects currently underway are:
Northern Ireland:
Daisy Hill Woodland (Newry)
Glencairn Daycare Centre (Belfast)
Shantallow Community Recreation Project (Derry)
Old Warren Community Centre (Lisburn)
South West
Mancroft Park (Bristol)
Woodhay Road Garden Project (Plymouth)
Back to press releases index
Back to top
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