Tesco has cut plastic bag use by one billion, says Leahy

He said Tesco's work to "encourage people to recycle and reuse carrier bags" had saved one billion plastic bags in a year.

"Millions of customers have had a conversation about doing something differently for the environment," he added.

As part of its plans to reduce carrier bag use, Tesco has offered incentives to customers such as Green Clubcard points if they reuse plastic bags or find alternative ways to carry their shopping.

Tesco has sold more than 15 million reusable bags and is issuing 27% fewer plastic bags than when it started offering Green Clubcard points.

Tesco also urged the Competition Commission to give "due weight" to the "very competitive" nature of the grocery market as it prepares to present the provisional findings of its inquiry into the industry later this month.

Tesco's like-for-like UK sales rose 3.5%, excluding petrol, in the six months to 25 August. The wet weather in June and July caused sales to slow, but they picked up again in August when the weather improved.

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