Britain’s leading supermarkets have agreed to a 50 per cent reduction in the number of carrier bags given out by spring next year. The government agreement with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) covers seven of Britain’s major supermarket chains. The reduction will be compared to the base year of 2006 when around 13 billion bags were used by consumers in the UK. The number of bags saved by spring next year, if the target is met, through this agreement would fill 60 Olympic-sized swimming... ...Read more »

The ACT community should achieve a reduction of 80 per cent in plastic bag use, ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell said on Friday. Mr Corbell said the ACT would move to instigate a 12-month trial in the first half of next year of a range of measures, including a charge on plastic bags, to reduce plastic bag use. “The 80 per cent target would be consistent with the results achieved in the recent Victorian trial of a plastic bag charge of 10 cents per bag,” he claimed. “One of... ...Read more »

Margy Osmond, CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association, has reported that retailers are keen to participate with government on new plastic bag initiatives following the successful trial of a levy in Victoria a couple of months ago. “We welcome the opportunity to continue and grow our partnership with the Victorian and other state governments to develop a model to further reduce the use of plastic bags,” Mrs Osmond said in response to the Environment Ministers meeting in Adelaide... ...Read more »

IGA Barraba is tomorrow set to become the first supermarket in New South Wales to place a permanent ban on plastic bags. The store owners, John and Karen Bishton, are encouraging customers to use re-useable bags – which are sold at three for $1. They will also offer re-usable bags on loan. IGA Barraba is the largest retailer in the north western NSW town, and accounts for approximately 85 per cent of plastic bag usage among the small town’s 2000 residents. It is now well on the way to... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) yesterday called on retailers to get involved with environmental debates, including the proposed emissions trading scheme and plastic bag bans. Speaking to an auditorium of over 300 at the Future’s So Bright Green conference, ARA Executive Director Richard Evans encouraged retailers to embrace the opportunity in the challenge to ‘go green’ by engaging with governments. “Whether you agree with the science... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has urged state and federal governments to restrict the introduction of new legislation that could burden retailers with added compliance costs during this period of economic concern.ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said during one of the hardest economic times for retailers, decision makers are continuing to push through legislation across the country – including unit pricing, plastic bag bans, emissions trading schemes,... ...Read more »

Shoppers in Warrnambool, Wangaratta and the Fountain Gate area have dramatically cut plastic bag use during the plastic bag levy trial, according to the Victorian Government. From 18 August to 14 September a ten cent government and industry charge was placed on plastic checkout bags from Coles, Woolworths (Safeway) and IGA stores in the three trial areas of Warrnambool, Wangaratta and Fountain Gate. Victorian Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings and CEO of the Australian National... ...Read more »

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the world’s largest retailer, has joined the growing list of retailers pledging to lower their plastic bag use. The US-based company has committed to reducing its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 per cent per store by 2013. This is expected to eliminate more than 135 million pounds of plastic waste globally. To reach this goal, Wal-Mart will reduce the number of bags given out by its stores, encourage the use of reusable bags and give customers the... ...Read more »

The use of disposable plastic bags is in steep decline as shoppers in their thousands switch to permanent shopping bags in the United Kingdom, according to Tesco. Tesco, the leading UK retailer, has reported that customers have saved a staggering two billion carrier bags since Green Clubcard Points were launched in August 2006. The Green Clubcard Points system, which operates like a loyalty rewards system whereby consumers are awarded points for “putting the environment first”, has been... ...Read more »

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 »