Plastic bag use in Scotland drops 80% after 5p bag charge

Recent figures have shown that in the past 12 months since the 5p plastic bag charge came into effect in Scotland, there has been a reduction of around 650 million, or 80% in the amount of bags used.

This has resulted in around 4,000 tonnes of bags being taken out of the landfill system, and supermarkets have raised around £7 million for charities from passing on the money raised by the charge.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has said: “Previously statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every single year – more per head than anywhere else in the UK.

“I thank Scotland for embracing this policy and showing we’re serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment. I am confident that Scotland is going to go from strength to strength in its bid to tidy up our streets and beaches, where litter has been a highly visible problem in the past.”

It’s thought that the charge has triggered a significant change in shopper habits, with the majority now remembering to take their own bags to the supermarket and reuse bags they already have, rather than continuing to collect new ones each week.

This shows that the charge has been a success in Scotland in that the goal of reducing the number of plastic bags being wasted has been achieved. The 5p charge came in effect in England just last month, so the results here are yet to be seen.

We at The Printed Bag Shop can provide a huge range of alternatives to plastic bags, if you’re looking to stock up on more reusable options for your customers. You can try our laminated paper bags, which add a hint of luxury with their sturdy material and full colour design, our twisted handle paper bags are a bestseller that suit a range of businesses, or our cotton bags make fabulous branded tote bags that consumers can use again and again.

To find out more about what the bag charge means for you, the alternatives we can offer and to receive your free quote, simply contact our sales team on 0191 268 7555 or sales@theprintedbagshop.co.uk.

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