Scottish shoppers use 80 percent less plastic bags in 2015

Ever since Scottish shoppers have been faced with a 5 pence charge for single-use carrier bags twelve months ago, the usage of these bags has shown a sharp reduction. According to a press release, grocery retailers alone already saw a drop of 80 percent in the usage of plastic bags since October of last year.

The data that was obtained from major grocery retailers showed that the measurement had saved 650 million bags from being used. Also, the small fee has allowed retailers to raise around 6.7 million pounds, all of which will be donated to good causes, such as environmental organisations. Examples of stores that have signed the Carrier Bag Commitment, include Next, Zara, Mango and Ted Baker.

“It’s now becoming second nature for shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment. I am confident that Scotland is going to go from strength to strength in its bid to tidy up our streets and beaches, where litter has been a highly visible problem in the past,” said Richard Lochhead, Scotland´s Environment Secretary. Ian Gulland, CEO of the company Zero Waste Scotland, also perceives the charge as a positive change. “Retailers in the fashion and clothing sector have gone the extra mile to help shoppers in Scotland embrace a new shopping habit.”

The Carrier Bag Commitment is an initiative from Zero Waste Scotland, a company that is funded by the Scottish government. Retailers who have signed the commitment have agreed to donate the proceeds from plastic bags to charity and to provide transparency to the public about the amount of bags that are distributed.