Annex C
VOLUNTARY ACTION BY RETAILERS AND OTHERS
1. A number of food retailers have introduced
bag for life schemes. These schemes all follow the same basic
pattern; a charge is made for a strong and durable plastic bag
and that bag is replaced each time it wears out. The plastic from
worn out bags is then recycled. While some retailers have had
considerable success with such schemes, they are yet to take off
in any major way.
2. Generally, retailers see "bag for
life" schemes as a better way forward when compared to the
tax approach. However, they do recognise the overall lack of success
of such schemes and have shown interest in a national approach
(advocated by the curator of the Science Museum).
3. This approach takes the view that what
is missing at present is a properly promoted and co-ordinated
scheme covering all retailers throughout the country. To encourage
reuse of bags, motivating consumers is crucial. A tax-based policy
moves consumer behaviour in the right direction. But it works
by encouraging consumers to avoid or reuse bags for a negative
reason: to avoid tax. If consumers are to have positive reasons
for changing their behaviour, as some argue, there is a need to
raise their awareness and convince them of the environmental benefits
of reducing waste and recycling used bags.
4. The aim is to encourage people to support
the scheme for positive reasons. By deliberately choosing to use
a bag-for-life, they reduce the amount of resources consumed,
recycle materials, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and slow the
effects of climate change.
5. A project has been set up by the Wales
Environmental Trust and ASDA on the re-use of plastic carrier
bags. The objective of the project is to find an effective means
of reducing the number of plastic single trip supermarket carrier
bags used in Wales.
6. The project seeks to answer two main
questions:
— can the attitudes of the general
public on the reuse of supermarket carrier bags change without
the introduction of a charge (eg a tax)?
— if so, what is the best reusable
option to provide for consumers?
7. Answers to these questions will be sought
in a two part project over a period of 10 weeks. For a trial period
of six weeks, single trip carrier bags will be removed from all
ASDA stores in Wales and bags for life will be issued free of
charge in their place. This will be coupled with an intensive
awareness raising campaign in-store and through all media across
Wales, both leading up to the project and during the trial itself.
At the end of the six weeks, single trip bags will be reintroduced
and a small charge made for bags for life. ASDA customers will
also be encouraged to return all single trip bags for recycling.
8. Another initiative drawn up by a packaging
company relates to charity collections of clothes and other jumble.
These collections would also take plastic carrier bags for re-cycling
into new polymer; this polymer has value from which the charity
would benefit.
9. A well publicised and promoted (voluntary)
national "bag for life" scheme may have attractions,
particularly if it followed the Science Museum idea of promoting
the scheme with:
— a national logo and strapline on
every bag;
— customised for each supermarket chain
and type of retail outlet; and
— a bag designed to be as environmentally
friendly as possible.
10. The rationale would be that by buying
a bag-for-life a consumer shows active support for reuse/recycling.
The scheme has further benefits because it is:
— Multi-stakeholder—leading to
greater public participation.
— More effective than existing arrangements
because it could cover more outlets.
— Backed up by publicity materials
to engage and motivate the public.
11. The downside is that it is voluntary
so has no guarantee of success, although once one or two major
stores participate, others may follow. It may also not be suitable
for all retailers, in particular non-food retailers and small
businesses.
12. Combining a national bags for life scheme
and the charity collection of old plastic bags with whatever conclusions
are drawn from the ASDA research project in Wales may also be
an option.
February 2007
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