Tesco UK has reported that the 5p levy on single-use plastic carrier bags, introduced by the British government one year ago, has saved 1.5 billion plastic bags so far, representing a 72% drop in the use of single-use plastic bags in Tesco stores, compared to previous years.
In addition, 57% of Tesco's online shoppers are now selecting bag-less deliveries.
Following the introduction of the levy, Tesco UK launched the 'Bags of Help' scheme, in collaboration with environmental charity Groundwork. This scheme uses the money generated by the levy to fund a variety of environment-improving community projects, through a grants system. So far, the scheme has helped to fund 1,170 projects across the UK.
Groundwork’s national chief executive, Graham Duxbury, said, "Bags of Help is giving our communities both the funding and the support to create better, healthier and greener places for everyone to enjoy. We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding. [...] They’re all fantastic projects that make a real difference in our neighbourhoods."
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Martha Sparrius. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
