Case Studies Reducing Carrier Bag Use This report contains case studies from UK retailers. They detail how retailers are helping consumers to achieve major reductions in the use of carrier bags and how check-out colleagues are playing a significant role in making this happen. The case studies show how retailers have worked with consumers to help reduce carrier bag numbers and to prompt reuse. Please address any enquiries to either the main Press Office contact for each company or directly to WRAP at [email protected]. Further information about carrier bags can be found at http://www.wrap.org.uk/bags Date: July 2009 (and partially updated in March 2011)
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Case Studies
Reducing Carrier Bag Use
This report contains case studies from UK retailers. They detail how retailers are helping consumers to achieve
major reductions in the use of carrier bags and how check-out colleagues are playing a significant role in making
this happen. The case studies show how retailers have worked with consumers to help reduce carrier bag
numbers and to prompt reuse.
Please address any enquiries to either the main Press Office contact for each company or directly to WRAP at
Written by: These case studies were written by UK retailers and are reported by WRAP (Waste & Resources
Action Programme) working with Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the
Department of the Environment Northern Ireland.
Front cover photography: [Consumers are increasingly aware that they can make positive choices to help the environment in the way that they shop. Everyone who
cuts back on the number of bags that they use makes a contribution to saving resources and reducing waste. All types of carrier bag, whether made from plastic, paper or
jute, will have some impact on the environment during the manufacturing process, transportation and ultimate disposal. So the best way to reduce their carbon footprint
is to simply re-use them as many times as possible and then recycle them at the end of their useful life.]
Data included here is indicative only and has not been independently verified. While steps have been taken to ensure its accuracy, WRAP cannot accept responsibility or
be held liable to any person for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with this information being inaccurate, incomplete or misleading. This material is
copyrighted. It may be reproduced free of charge subject to the material being accurate and not used in a misleading context. The source of the material must be
identified and the copyright status acknowledged. This material must not be used to endorse or used to suggest WRAP's endorsement of a commercial product or
service. For more detail, please refer to our Terms & Conditions on our website - www.wrap.org.uk"
2.0 Somerfield * ................................................................................................................................ 6 3.0 Sainsbury’s .................................................................................................................................. 7 4.0 Tesco ........................................................................................................................................... 8 5.0 The Co-operative Group ............................................................................................................. 9
5.1 Dual use for carrier bags ...................................................................................................... 9 5.2 West Yorkshire .................................................................................................................. 10 5.3 Midcounties ...................................................................................................................... 10 5.4 Plymouth & South West ..................................................................................................... 10
Between March and May 2008 Waitrose trialled a number of initiatives in four of its branches: Cirencester, Otley,
Buckhurst Hill and Harrogate. The aim was to reduce the number of single-use plastic bags given away and
involved:
Removal of bags from view at main checkouts; Asking customers without their own bags if they would prefer to purchase a 10p „bag for life‟; and Asking customers at basket checkouts if they needed a bag.
Waitrose monitored the impact on the number of transactions, any increase in sales of their „bags for life‟ and the
decrease in the number of single-use carrier bags given away. As some customers use single-use carrier bags as
bin liners, impact on the sales of bin liners was also measured to see if a reduction in single-use carrier bags
would lead to an increase in sales.
During this three month period sales of „bags for life‟ rose by approximately 1100% which, then after four or five
weeks started to fall, indicating that customers were reusing them. The number of single-use carrier bags given
out fell between 45 and 60% and there was no impact on trade or the sale of bin liners.
Waitrose also collected customer feedback and found that customers were happy to reuse their bags but often
forgot to bring them from the car into the store. Therefore the company introduced prominent signage at the
store entrance as a reminder to customers.
These successful trial initiatives formed Waitrose‟s national carrier bag strategy and have now been implemented
across all 213 stores.
“Waitrose continues to be fully committed to reducing the use of single-use carrier bags and the voluntary