UK: supermarkets′ home delivery accused over bags galore

Supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury's have been criticised by environmental watchdogs for failing to reduce the excessive number of plastic carrier bags used in their online home deliveries. Six months after promising to cut the number of plastic bags used, a survey found the two supermarkets were getting through more bags than previously - sometimes putting just two or three items in each bag.

The research by trade magazine The Grocer found that Asda used 15 bags to pack 32 items - worse than the previous survey three months ago when it used 14 carriers for 33 items. Sainsbury's, meanwhile, used 11 bags for 33 items - five more carriers than in the previous quarterly online shopping delivery.

Campaigners have been working to highlight the environmental damage done globally by plastic carrier bags. UK shoppers use an estimated 17 billion plastic carrier bags each year, most of which end up in landfill sites. Consumers in Scotland use around 700 million plastic bags for their shopping.

However, the report in The Grocer says that the message that fewer bags can be used appears to be getting through to other leading store chains. To deliver 33 products, Tesco used just four bags, while Waitrose used five. Sandra Bell, Friends of the Earth food campaigner, said she was appalled by the number of bags used.

"It seems astonishing that some supermarkets deliver to their customers with an average of only two or three items in each bag. This wasteful use of resources appears to be yet another example of the reality behind the major supermarkets' green claims." Mike Webster, senior consultant at environmental pressure group Waste Watch, said more than 17 billion plastic bags are given out by the nine major chains each year.

He said: "We urge retailers to look again at the alternatives - reusable bags, bags with recycled content or charging customers. For home delivery, cardboard boxes, which can be reused or recycled, or reusable plastic crates, should be considered." Asda said it was focusing on reducing bag use in home deliveries and on recycling used carrier bags. "Hopefully this result is not indicative of other deliveries," said a spokesman.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said it made every effort to ensure as few bags as possible were used and it was "disappointing that on this occasion our normal policy was not followed". Last night, Mike Pringle, Lib Dem MSP, said he would be reviving his private members' bill, which was defeated in 2006, forcing shoppers to pay a 10p tax on plastic bags.

"I will be forcing a vote on the issue. Supermarkets don't have to use plastic bags for their online deliveries as the shopping can be delivered in a box. The findings of this survey are another sign that supermarkets are not taking the problem seriously and are indulging in tokenism." It was argued that the plan would result in the loss of around 700 jobs in the Scottish plastics manufacturing sector.

Fashion designer Anya Hindmarch's "I'm Not A Plastic Bag" reusable canvas carrier bag - selling at £5 - became the summer's most coveted ethical item. It sold out just hours after it went on sale in June, later appearing on eBay at £200.

Source: scotsman.com

Publication date: 9/3/2007

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