Environment

Supermarkets and the high-street have moved closer to putting an end to free plastic bags amid growing industry criticism of the government's stance on carrier bags.

WHSmith, Woolworths and the Co-op have become the latest high-street retailers to trial charging for bags, as others, including HMV and supermarkets Sainsbury's and Tesco, have begun taking bags under the counter in an attempt to reduce their use.

Plastics experts have suggested that the stores are responding to the threat of legislation to force plastic bag charges, although the stores have denied that their actions are motivated by the threat.

Joan Ruddock last month told Packaging News that charging for single-use carrier bags could become law as soon as this autumn if an amendment to the Climate Change Bill is approved.

David Tyson, chief executive of the Packaging and Films Association, described the situation as a "real muddle" and said: "It seems the government has a target here that probably has more to do with politics than the environment."

Asda has said that it would oppose any charge, despite a 30-40% reduction in the use of plastic bags and a 1,200% increase in the sale of bags for life since it took bags under the counter in June.

Other retailers have announced similar results. WHSmith has recorded a 50% drop in carrier bag consumption since it introduced a 1p charge in a trial across stores in the North West and the Midlands in June.

Woolworths has reported an 80% reduction in carrier bag consumption after a 3p charge was trialled across Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Glasgow, London and the West Midlands.

Tesco has also announced plans to make customers ask for single-use carrier bags, while Sainsbury's and music retailer HMV are trialling similar schemes.

However, manufacturers have indicated they are yet to suffer from the reduction in use.

Smith Bateson managing director Steve McKuen told Packaging News that his firm was doing "a hell of a lot" of bags for life, but that generally clients still preferred plastic bags over paper alternatives.

Bunzl, the packaging and outsourcing group, last month said the drive to reduce plastic bag usage had failed to impact its UK business.

Bagging the bags
•  Aldi – No carrier bags on the till. Customers are charged 3p per bag
•  Asda – Has recorded 30-40% reduction in plastic bags use since taking bags under the counter in June
•  Co-op – East of England Co-operative will end the distribution of free bags at outlets from 8 September
•  Lidl – Has been charging customers for plastic bags since it launched in the UK in 1994. Small bags cost 3p and larger bags cost 9p
•  Marks & Spencer – Has cut bag use by 70% by charging 5p per bag
•  Morrisons – Doesn't charge for standard carrier bags
•  Netto – Has charged 3p for carrier bags since it opened its first UK outlet in 1990
•  Sainsbury's – Trialling taking bags under the counter. Offers Nectar points for re-use of bags
•  Tesco – Rewards customers who bring their own bags with Clubcard points. Customers are required to ask for plastic bags. No plans to charge
•  Waitrose – Cashiers now ask customers if they want a bag for life. The retailer is on target to reduce plastic bag usage by 50% by the end of 2008