Carrier bag numbers are coming down says Wilson

Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, today welcomed new figures which show the UK’s retailers are exceeding the carrier bag reduction target.

Released by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), the figures indicate how the UK’s leading high street and grocery retailers have exceeded a voluntary target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008.

The Minister said: “These results show that the ongoing efforts by retailers and shoppers to reduce carrier bag numbers are starting to work. We are now working towards a challenging target for major supermarkets to reduce carrier bag numbers by 50% by the end of May this year and these results show that we are on course to meet that target.

“I recently called on people in Northern Ireland to change their shopping habits to help to reduce the numbers of carrier bags.

“I want to emphasise that message once again. Simple things can be very effective. If more of us bring our own reusable carrier bags with us and refuse to take new carrier bags at the checkout we can expect to see even better results in the future.”

Since 2006, retailers have delivered a 40% reduction in the environmental impact of carrier bags, as measured by the reduction in the amount of virgin plastic used. Retailers have achieved this by reducing the number of carrier bags issued by 26%, increasing recycled content used and reducing carrier bag weight.

The target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags was part of an agreement with UK Governments and industry in February 2007 which has been met in full by a reduction in bag numbers alone.

The achievement also reflects the active engagement of consumers, who have helped to make it happen.

Notes to Editors:

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