Across the Merseyside region, British supermarket chain Iceland is set to trial paper bags in an effort to replace single-use plastic bags. During the trial, which will run for a period of eight weeks, the retailer will offer customers an option to choose between a paper carrier bag and a version made using post-consumer plastic waste. The company will charge 10p for each paper or reusable bag.
Earlier this year, the retailer made a pledge to eliminate plastic packaging from all of its own brand products by 2023. Since the government introduced a 5p levy on plastic bags in 2015, an 80% reduction in usage was witnessed. However, the retailer currently offers three million plastic carrier bags a week to consumers.
Iceland managing director Richard Walker: “We have received widespread support since announcing our intention to eradicate plastic packaging and we know that customers support our move to reduce single-use plastics. We’re already taking steps to deliver on our commitment to remove plastics, and of course single-use carriers are a significant part of the plastic we have in store, used by our customers every day.”
According to packaging-gateway.com, Walker also noted that the trial is an opportunity for the company to gain an in-depth understanding of how single-use carrier bags can be eliminated ‘while offering an alternative that is fit for purpose and works for our customers’.
