UK government to double plastic bag charge as plastic waste reduction efforts intensify
27 Aug 2018 --- The UK plastic bag charge is expected to rise to 10p and be extended to every type of shop, according to various major newspapers. Currently, shops with more than 250 employees are required to charge at least 5p per plastic bag in line with the initial law implemented in October 2015. The new expected measures will see an increase to 10p and include all retailers.
The move comes after plastic bag sales in England’s “big seven” supermarkets have dropped by 86 percent since the introduction of the 5p plastic bag charge in 2015 according to the UK Government. New figures compiled by the UK Government reveal customers of the country’s biggest supermarkets bought nearly a quarter fewer plastic bags last year compared to 2016/17 – a decrease of nearly 300 million bags. This is equivalent to just 19 bags per person in England annually, compared to 140 bags per person annually from before the introduction of the 5p charge in 2015.
The charge was introduced to help tackle the impacts of plastic waste pollution in the environment.
The “big seven” supermarkets consist of Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury, The Co-operative Group, Tesco and Waitrose.
Welcoming the figures, Environment Secretary Michael Gove says: “These figures demonstrate the collective impact we can make to help the environment by making simple changes to our daily routines. We want businesses to continue to look at what they can do to help improve our environment to leave it in a better state than we found it.”
A reported £58.5 million (US$75.1 million) was also raised for charitable causes through the 5p charge, based on figures compiled by two-thirds of the retailers willing to disclose the information.
The UK Treasury reported in August this year that it had received a record 162,000 responses to their call for evidence on how best to tackle plastic waste.
The UK has made some strides in its approach to recycling and plastic waste, considering the introduction of a levy on coffee cups and a potential ban on plastics straws, stirrers and cotton buds in line with a recent EU Directive.
Earlier this month, The City Corporation of London has launched its Plastic Free City campaign in an attempt to reduce single-use plastics across the Square Mile. The move comes after research found four in five Generation Z workers expect employers to proactively tackle single-use plastics.
Plastic shopping bag reduction in the US
US retailers Kroger has announced that it will phase out single-use plastics bags by 2025 as part of its “Zero Waste” commitment.
Seattle-based QFC will be the company's first retail division to phase out single-use plastic bags. The company expects QFC's transition to be completed in 2019.
“As part of our ‘Zero Hunger | Zero Waste’ commitment, we are phasing out use-once, throw-it-away plastic bags and transitioning to reusable bags in our stores by 2025,” says Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO. “It's a bold move that will better protect our planet for future generations.”
Some estimates suggest that 100 billion single-use plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year. Currently, less than five percent of plastic bags are recycled annually in America, and single-use plastic bags are the fifth-most common single-use plastic found in the environment by magnitude.
Kroger will solicit customer feedback and work with NGOs and community partners to ensure a responsible transition.
“We listen very closely to our customers and our communities, and we agree with their growing concerns," says Mike Donnelly, Kroger's Executive Vice President and COO. "That's why, starting today at QFC, we will begin the transition to more sustainable options. This decision aligns with our Restock Kroger commitment to live our purpose through social impact.”
By Joshua Poole
