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British shoppers shun single-use carriers - 2BN bags saved

Tesco

13 August 2008

The use of disposable plastic bags is in steep decline as shoppers in their thousands switch to permanent shopping bags.
Tesco customers have saved a staggering two billion carrier bags since Green Clubcard Points were launched in August 2006. Carrier bag use by Tesco shoppers in the last month is 40% lower than for the same period two years ago.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Corporate and Legal Affairs Director said:
“We have helped our customers cut bag use by 40% without a bag tax adding to the cost of their weekly shop. In fact, our Green Clubcard scheme helps people save on their shopping bills.
“Our customers have shown us how keen they are to break this environmentally-damaging habit of a lifetime – the “carrot” approach clearly works.
“It took more than 14 months to save the first billion bags but the second billion was achieved in less than 9 months, showing that the trend is rapidly gaining support.
“Even the most committed greenies occasionally forget to bring their shopping bags with them, so there will always be carrier bags available free of charge. We want to help our customers remember to reuse their bags, rather than punish them when they forget.”
The supermarket has already sent its 12 million Clubcard customers a new key fob which carries a reminder to bring their bags with them. There will also be ‘reminder banners’ in store car parks.
Tesco has also introduced a range of affordable and attractive reusable bags to make it more appealing for customers to make the switch. It brought in Cath Kidston – one of Britain’s best-loved designers – to extend its range with bags made from recycled plastic bottles. Tesco Charity of the Year, Marie Curie Cancer Care, receives a 50 pence donation for every bag sold. A new vintage-inspired design hits Tesco stores this week.
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Tesco Press Office
Tel: 01992 644 645 or out of hours: 01992 644 733 (select option 2)
Tesco Corporate & Legal Affairs, New Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9SL
Notes to editors:
- Throughout the month of July 2006, Tesco gave its customers approximately 350 million single-use carrier bags. In July 2008, that had dropped to just 200 million.
- Green Clubcard Points are awarded to customers for every bag they do not use. Using a large shopping bag could therefore result in a reward of 2 or 3 points.
- Tesco originally commissioned six bag designs from Cath Kidston but, due to their huge popularity, has now extended that to eight, including a special design for Christmas. Each bag costs £3.50, from which 50 pence is donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care, Tesco’s Charity of the Year.
- Each Cath Kidston bag is made from nine recycled 500ml plastic bottles. The dye used is also environmentally-friendly and even the sales tag is made from recycled cardboard.
- Tesco sells a range of reusable bags, including a Small Green Bag for 35p and a Big Green Bag for 40p. Also available is a large Natural Green Bag made from jute costing £1.