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Morrisons trials 15p plastic bag charge

Pictures to show how Morrisons is giving customers the option of using large paper carrier bags in eight of its stores from this week. The trial is a response to customers who have told Morrisons reducing plastic is their number one environmental concern. The new US-style paper grocery bags have handles and are a similar capacity to standard plastic carrier bags.  They are 100% PEFC accredited meaning they are sourced from forests that are managed responsibly.  

Priced at 20p each the paper grocery bags, which can be reused and ultimately recycled, are labelled 'Reusable Paper Bag'. As part of the trial, Morrisons is also increasing the price of standard plastic carrier bags from 10p to 15p to further reduce plastic use. This follows Morrisons’ removal of the 5p carrier bags early in 2018 which led to 25% reduction in overall bag sales.  This 15p standard plastic carrier bag is produced in the UK and is made from recycled material reclaimed from Morrisons stores. 

For more information, please contact the Morrisons press office at The Academy on 020 7100 7100 or morrisons@theacademypr.com

Morrisons is raising the price of a reusable plastic bag from 10p to 15p and introducing a 20p reusable paper bag, as part of an eight-week trial across eight stores.

The supermarket says that reducing plastic use is its customers' top environmental concern.

The new "US-style" 20p paper bags are reusable and recyclable, and Morrisons says they are sourced from forests that are managed responsibly. They have handles and a similar capacity to standard plastic carrier bags.  

Morrisons scrapped its 5p single-use plastic bags last year, which it says cut bag sales by 25%.

It currently only sells reusable plastic bags, which will increase in price to 15p under the trial.

All large retailers are required by law to charge a 5p levy on single-use plastic bags, and the Government is currently consulting on whether to increase the charge to 10p and include all retailers in England. Paper bags are exempt from the charge.

See Supermarket Shopping Tips for help on cutting your shopping bill, and our 13 ways to use less plastic AND save cash

Which stores are taking part in the trial?

The trial, which starts today, will last eight weeks and take place in eight stores across England, Wales, Scotland and Gibraltar. 

The participating stores are Abergavenny, Camden, Erskine, Gibraltar, Hunslet, Skipton, Wood Green and Yeadon. 

What does Morrisons say?

Andy Atkinson, group customer and marketing director at Morrisons, said: "When we listen to customers they want us to help them reduce the amount of plastic they have in their lives.

"These new paper bags do exactly the same job as standard plastic carrier bags. They are tough, reusable and can help keep a large amount of plastic out of the environment."

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