New government figures announced by Waste and Resources Minister Rebecca Pow show a massive decrease in the number of single-use plastic bags sold by main retailers since 2014.
The figures show 7 billion plastic bags have been prevented from being given to customers since the introduction of the single-use carrier bag charge.
A 5p charge was first introduced in supermarkets in 2015. Since then, usage at the main retailers – Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Group, Tesco and Waitrose – has dropped by more than 98%, Pow announced.
Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers have worked closely with the government over the single-use bag charges to ensure it has been an industry-wide success – with 98% fewer bags used across the biggest grocery retailers. It has also generated millions in funds that retailers have donated to a variety of good causes.”
According to the figures, the average person in England now buys just two single-use carrier bags a year from these businesses, compared with around 140 in 2014 before the charge was introduced.
We are determined to do more to tackle plastic pollution at source, with further bans on single-use products starting in October.
In 2021, the charge was increased to 10p and extended to all businesses, which reduced the number of bags used by 35% – from 627 million in 2019/20 to 406 million in 2022/23.
The number of single-use carrier bags reported as sold by the main retailers was 133 million in 2022/23, down from 197 million in 2021/2022, a 33% reduction.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow, commented: “Our charge has helped to stop billions of single-use carrier bags littering our neighbourhoods or heading to landfill while ensuring millions of pounds go to good causes.
“We are determined to do more to tackle plastic pollution at source, with further bans on single-use products starting in October and our deposit return scheme will cut litter and drive up recycling rates. We continue to encourage all relevant retailers to play their part in further reducing the use of single-use carrier bags.”