WRAP - Carrier Bag Statement
In February 2007, 21 of the UK's leading high street and grocery retailers reached an agreement with the UK Governments to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25 % by the end of 2008. WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), the waste advisory body agreed to take the initiative forward, bringing retailers and government together, collecting data and monitoring progress.
Today, one year on, WRAP hosted a meeting of Government and retailers to review progress in 2007, report actions that have been taken by the retailers to reach the target and to identify which initiatives are delivering results. WRAP reported to the meeting that based on the data supplied by retailers, interim results indicate a 14% reduction in the environmental impact of carrier bags as measured by the use of virgin plastic. The total number of bags used by the signatories has reduced by 1 billion bags from 13.4 billion to 12.4 billion.
However, performance has been very variable, with retailers reporting activity ranging from a 70% reduction in virgin plastic use to an increase of 22% in one case. We are also disappointed that there has not been more progress on the actual number of bags reduced. Therefore, while the 14% reduction achieved is broadly on track to reach the overall target by the end of the year, there is clearly no room for complacency.
WRAP also reported on the most popular retailer initiatives to reduce the amount of virgin plastic used in carrier bags, which included the following; incentive card point schemes, promotion of re-useable bags, bags dispensed and bagged by cashier only, the introduction of in-store carrier bag recycling facilities which have increased by 43%, reduced bag size and the introduction of bags with increased recycled content.
WRAP's Director of Retail, Richard Swannell, who chaired the meeting, said: "WRAP wants to see a substantial reduction in the environmental impact of free single use carrier bags. Today's meeting and recent developments show that there is now clear momentum from retailers although clearly more work needs to be done. The carrier bag agreement between retailers and Government is highlighting valuable examples of ways forward, such as the maximum reuse of carrier bags, the widespread adoption of bags for life and the use of recycled content in bags. These initiatives are helping to encourage us all to do things differently and think about alternatives to free carrier bags".
Editor's notes:
- The agreement was between 21 of the leading high street and grocer retailers and Defra, the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Office
- The target was a 25% reduction in the environmental impact of carrier bags. This is being measured by looking at a reduction in the amount of virgin plastic which provides a simple way to measure environmental impact.
- Participating retailers are as follows: Asda, Boots, Co-operative Group, Debenhams, DSG Retail Ltd (Dixons and Currys), Early Learning Centre, E H Booths & Co Ltd, Halfords plc, Home Retail Group, John Lewis Partnership (John Lewis and Waitrose), Marks & Spencer, The Musgrave Group plc, Next Group plc, Nisa Todays, Primark Stores Ltd, Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, Somerfield Group, Spar (UK) Ltd, Tesco, Travis Perkins (Wickes), Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc
- 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 an independent company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, 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 on www.wrap.org.uk
