Sainsbury’s withdraws free carrier bags

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is scrapping free disposable carrier bags at its stores in a bid to highlight its green credentials. The retailer will remove the bags for one day next week and give away 7 million re-usable bags to customers.

The bags are usually sold for 10p each, with proceeds going to charity. The giveaway will mark the launch of the retailer’s “Make a Difference” campaign. One day each month the company will encourage “positive action” across a range of environmental issues.

Customer director Gwynn Burr says the initiative follows feedback from customers saying they want to be “greener” or healthier but want more information on steps they can take.

Each year the retailer recycles 100 million plastic bags and saw a 25% increase in the sales of re-useable bags in 2006/07 on the same period a year before.