Waitrose Carrier Bag Trials Welcomed by WRAP
08 May 2007
Waitrose’s two-week carrier bags trials, which begin on 14th May 2007, have been welcomed by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). The two trials will introduce new ‘green tills’ which are carrier bag-free in 14 stores, and will also test a single bag-less store in East Anglia for the same period.
Commenting on Waitrose’s plans, WRAP’s Chief Executive Dr Liz Goodwin, said: “These customer trials are another example of how leading retailers are responding to the Agreement to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by 2008. The trials are designed to gauge Waitrose customers’ reactions to different approaches to reducing bag use, including an entirely bag-less supermarket. This is exactly the kind of initiative we are looking for from the signatories of the Agreement.”
“We are also delighted that Waitrose now provide their customers with bag recycling facilities at each outlet, and that they are introducing more recycled material into their carrier bags, in an effort to cut back on the total usage of oil based plastics, and to encourage recycling. We hope the trials are successful and look forward to the results.”
Commenting on Waitrose’s plans, WRAP’s Chief Executive Dr Liz Goodwin, said: “These customer trials are another example of how leading retailers are responding to the Agreement to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by 2008. The trials are designed to gauge Waitrose customers’ reactions to different approaches to reducing bag use, including an entirely bag-less supermarket. This is exactly the kind of initiative we are looking for from the signatories of the Agreement.”
“We are also delighted that Waitrose now provide their customers with bag recycling facilities at each outlet, and that they are introducing more recycled material into their carrier bags, in an effort to cut back on the total usage of oil based plastics, and to encourage recycling. We hope the trials are successful and look forward to the results.”
Editor's notes:
- WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.
- Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP’s work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
- More information on all of WRAP’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk
Press Office
Senior Press Officer
WRAP
Tel: 01295 819695
press.office@wrap.org.uk
Phillip Ward
Director for Waste Implementation Programmes
WRAP
Tel: 01295 819621
phillip.ward@wrap.org.uk
