Coles has announced a scheme to encourage consumers to return plastic bags to their stores to celebrate Landcare Week (1-7 September). For each plastic shopping bag returned to Coles throughout September, the retailer will donate money towards the Junior Landcare School Garden Grant program – a nationwide initiative that allows schools, kindergartens and community groups to develop environmental projects such as water-efficient gardens. Coles Environment Manager, Paul Lang, believes Junior... ...Read more »

Marks & Spencer announced yesterday that it has achieved an 80% reduction in the total number of food carrier bags used since the UK-wide launch of carrier bag charging in early May. The company reports that such a figure means that M&S customers have used about 70 million less plastic bags in the last ten weeks alone. With all profits from the 5p charge going to charity, in the same period, over £200,000 has been raised for M&S’ environmental charity partner, Groundwork. The money... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released a decision proposing to grant authorisation to the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) to conduct a four-week trial of a 10c charge for lightweight plastic shopping bags. The trial is proposed to take place at Coles Supermarkets, Woolworths Supermarkets and IGA retailers in Narre Warren, Wangaratta and Warrnambool in Victoria. The pilot program, conceived in consultation with the Victorian Government, is proposed to commence... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), cautioned that the proposed trial to test a levy on plastic bags at three supermarket locations in Victoria was not addressing the real issue of litter management. The Victorian Government announced yesterday that a levy of 10 cents will be enforced in three locations from August, with Coles, Safeway and IGA to participate in the one month trial. ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the proposed four week plastic bag levy... ...Read more »

A proposed trial to test a 10 cent charge on plastic bags is planned to start in August at three locations in Victoria, CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) Margy Osmond said today. ANRA and the Victorian Government today announced that an application to authorise the trial of a temporary charge on plastic bags has been submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Trial authorisation is required under the Trade Practices Act as it will involve retailers... ...Read more »