Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Plastics News
  • Plastics News China
  • European Rubber Journal
SustainablePlasticsFINAL
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Bioplastics
    • Technology & Materials
    • New white paper from Tomra: What makes an effective deposit return system work?
      Alpla Group invests €5m in food-grade rPET system in Italy
      Armed with ISCC Plus certification, CP Chem secures supply agreement with Nexus
      Ecodek uses single-use coffee cups in composite board production
    • Opinion: The future of sustainable plastic
      Vinyl organisations in US, Australia sign MOU to explore sustainability programme reciprocity
      IneosStyrolution-Antwerp-main_i.jpg
      EU provides funding for sustainable ABS project
      Huhtamaki welcomes LCA results on environmental impact of single-use packaging
    • Lorenz develops lightweight bio-based thermoset based on regional raw materials
      Covestro adds its bio-TPUs to Desmopan product range
      Yield10 Bioscience announces milestone achievement with plant-made PHA
      Novamont advances vertical integration growth strategy with acquisition BioBag
    • Injection Moulding
    • Blow Moulding
    • Extrusion
    • Thermoforming
    • 3D printing
    • Technology
    • Materials
    • Machinery
  • Opinion
    • View Point
    • Opinion: The future of sustainable plastic
      A year to remember
      Opinion: California introduces world’s toughest plastic bottle recycling legislature – will other markets follow?
      Opinion: What to expect from plastic that protects our kids
  • Events
    • Our Exhibitions
    • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
    • Ask the Expert
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
  • Prices & Resources
    • Polymer Prices
    • Data Reports
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Media Pack
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletters
    • List Rental
  • Digital magazine
    • Digital Magazine
  • Multimedia
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
August 06, 2019 09:38 AM

Government report shows 90% drop in sale of plastic bags

Total 2018/'19 sales of 490m bags is half that of the previous year

Plastics News Europe
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Waitrose

    Sales of plastic bags have fallen by 90%, according to new government report

    New figures released by the UK government have shown a 90% reduction in the sale of plastic bags by the seven largest retailers in England since the 5p charge was introduced in 2015.

    The government release did not give comparative figures for total plastic bag sales since 2015, but noted average per-person sales in England are now just 10 bags a year. This compares 140 bags in 2014, before the charge was introduced.

    Asda, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Group, Tesco and Waitrose sold 490 million fewer single-use plastic bags in 2018/19 (549 million). This is half the total of the previous year, said the government statement.

    Total single-use carrier bag sales reported by all large retailers fell 37% to 1.11 billion compared with the previous year.

    The UK introduced a 5p plastic bag charge in England in October 2015 as part of a nationwide scheme to crack down on plastic waste.

    Commenting on the report, Maddy Houghton-Boakes from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "‘The continued reduction in plastic bag use in our supermarkets is yet more evidence of the huge impact that a small financial incentive can have."

    She continued: "Theresa Villiers [Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] must now build on this success by rolling it out to all small shops, as well as larger retailers and supermarkets. There is also absolutely no reason why the charge shouldn’t be applied to all bags, paper as well as plastic, to bring an end to the use of these single use items altogether."

    In August last year, the government said it was planning to extend the single-use plastic bag charge to all retailers and increase the minimum charge to at least 10p.

    According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), SMEs which have been exempt from the plastic bag charge supply an estimated 3.4 billion single-use plastic bags per year.

    Trade bodies representing 40,000 small retailers have already launched a voluntarily approach to a 5p charge, but this accounts for less than one-fifth of England's estimated 220,000 SMEs.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Sustainable Plastics' news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Reserve your subscription today

    Subscriptions to Sustainable Plastics, the leading Pan-European magazine for the circular plastics industry are coming soon.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    "In a changing world, Sustainable Plastics is a constant: a platform the plastics industry can rely on to deliver the news and knowhow impacting the industry going forward”

    SustainablePlasticsFINAL
    Contact Us

    11 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom 
    Tel: +44 (0)1622 370570

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    [email protected]

     

    Resources
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Careers
    • Subscribe
    Affiliates
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • LSR World
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Tire Business
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • Automotive News
    • Automotive News Europe
    • Crain Publications
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Recycling
      • Sustainability
      • Bioplastics
      • Technology & Materials
        • Injection Moulding
        • Blow Moulding
        • Extrusion
        • Thermoforming
        • 3D printing
        • Technology
        • Materials
        • Machinery
    • Opinion
      • View Point
    • Events
      • Our Exhibitions
        • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
      • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
      • Ask the Expert
      • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Prices & Resources
      • Polymer Prices
      • Data Reports
      • White Papers
    • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Media Pack
    • Subscribe
      • Magazine
      • Newsletters
      • List Rental
    • Digital magazine
      • Digital Magazine
    • Multimedia