Less carrier bags now used

Supermarkets and their customers are using 346 million fewer single-use carrier bags every month than in 2006.

According to new figures, in May 2006, 718 million bags were being given out. In May 2009, this has almost halved to 372 million, a 48 per cent reduction.

In December 2008, seven high street supermarkets signed up to an agreement with the government to achieve a 50 per cent cut in the number of bags they gave out

 This voluntary target built on the reduction of 26 per cent in the number of bags given out between 2006 and 2008.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: “This is a great achievement by the seven supermarkets and their customers and it shows that by working together, we really can change our bag habits.  The target of a 50 per cent reduction was only narrowly missed and retailers have really put a lot into this in the last six months.  This means that several hundred million fewer carrier bags are going to landfill every month and we’re using less raw materials to make them, which is great news. I look forward to seeing further reductions in the months ahead.”