Environment

Julie Elliott - 20 August 2008

Plastic bags account for less than 1% of the waste stream and only account for 0.3% of litter - much less than cigarettes, chewing gum and fast food wrappers.

Cars, trucks and planes are far more damaging to the environment, but plastic bags are more noticeable because they're usually floating in the sea or flapping at the side of the road.

Retailers should be encouraging customers to re-use their bags as bin liners, for dirty washing or for carrying their soggy kit home from the gym.

The Irish plastic bag tax created more problems when it was introduced in 2002, including a 1000% increase in the consumption of bin liners and a rise in shoplifting.

Alternatives such as paper bags are far more bulky and therefore pose transportation and storage issues.

Perhaps using more sustainable materials in the manufacture of plastic bags is a more sensible way forward - and reducing emissions from the gas-guzzling monsters that are used on our roads.

Pallet Girl - 20 August 2008

I think this is a complete over-reaction by the retailers. Everyone I know re-uses plastic bags whether it be for carrying their lunch to work or to line their bins.

If anything the retailers should look at their home delivery services. I often have home delivery and frequently have one item per bag!

James Smith - 21 August 2008

I see Sainsbury's has now taken bags off its checkout in my local store. That's fine - using less material where possible is sensible. But the public really needs to understand that this isn't going to save the planet.

In fact, it's not going to make any difference at all. In a world without plastic bags, which the government seems to want, first we'll all start using more plastic bin bags and second we'll all often forget to bring our bags for life, so we'll end up paying over the odds for plastic bags that we use only once or twice. Where's the benefit?

DANJIM MARKETING - 21 August 2008

We all know retailers are now under enormous pressure to reduce carrier bags and packaging in general. Much of this pressure comes from consumer groups, environmental lobbyists and poor press coverage from ill-informed journalists. Have the retailers left it too late before the government imposes legislation that will force them to reduce carrier bags consumption. We believe so.

Carrier bags is now part of a ‘bigger agenda’, an agenda that covers a wide range of environmental issues; land fill, waste, recycling, climate change, bio-technology, sustainability and so on.

Whilst retailers are now taking the bags off the checkout, some charging a fee, many replacing with recycled materials, it is too little too late. The government and lobbyists have the industry in a corner. If we saw the initiatives that are being taken now by retailer’s, had been introduced 18months ago, then story would be different.

Albert Shuttleworth - 26 August 2008

The govt are using plastic acrrier bags as a totem of their green credentials. they know and understand the science as well as anyone ready this site however they choose to ignore it and rage against the single use carrier whilst ignoring the real issues around cars, transport, energy consumption, aviation etc.

If retailers do not deliver massive reductions very quickly they will be taxed. This tax will be passed down to consumers who are already strapped for cash.

It's a scandal!