Supermarkets to provide recycled paper bags, or delivery boxes, an alternative to plastic bags
Supermarkets used to let customers use boxes that food was delivered in to pack their shopping in - they now won't give them out.
American supermarkets give out re-cycled paper bags for packing.
Rather than producing, and charging for, plastic bags, I would like to see UK supermarkets let customers re-use delivery boxes or offer re-cycled paper bags for packaging.
This would provide a real alternative to plastic - and once unpacked at home the box / bag could go straight back into the recycling pile for another round of use.
Angus Stewart
shared this idea
12 comments
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Gloria Mcgeehan
commented
I usually take my own bags with me, if not a shopping trolley. However, there are odd occasions when I might purchase more than anticipated and have had to reluctantly resort to accepting what is on offer to transport the goods home. Boxes are ideal if one has simply to transfer to a car but for folk like myself, it is not really viable when on foot and laden down with shopping. I am old enough to remember life before plastic and supermarkets! Everyone had their own shopping bags otherwise paper bags and carriers were all that were available which were dire should there be inclement weather and they would completely disintigrate. I do buy the "bags for life" but again wish consideration could be given to shoppers on foot. It would be much more user friendly if only they made the handles longer so that they could be carried on shoulders. The same applies to purpose made shopping bags - now there is a business opportunity for someone! I have to say that I do feel guilty if I have to accept a plastic bag. I don't think the solution is to completely ban them but ensure that they are not so totally relied on as can be seen with some shoppers that use them for the entire contents of a trolley rather than for the odd emergency. How about bringing back the old fashioned stringbags for purchase. I mean real string, not nylon string.
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Eveline Deparis
commented
Actually, supermarkets should have no FREE plastic bags.
The idea to buy a bag for life is great as supermarket replace it once it is unusable.
Shoppers should take some bags with them. It takes very little room in a handbag to put one or two, and if one shops by car, bigger and more bags or boxes can be stored in. The trick is to have the habit to put them back once emptied.If a customer don't have a bag they should buy one.
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Kim Croysdill
commented
I always take my own bags to the shops so don't use theirs but feel that this is an excellent idea for those whom this is not always possible.
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Louise Hallett
commented
I agree 100%. Tesco plastic bags actually are biodegradable - they disintegrate completely in a few months. But paper ones would be much better. I often ask for old used boxes in supermarkets to carry my shopping in, and they won't let me have one. Completely crazy. I'm all for this, certainly ....
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J.P.Kelly
commented
Plastic bags banned in Ireland for years now. You pay for a plastic bag and the money goes to environmental causes. It's simple, It works but most of all it changes how people think about waste. Forget social conscience, charging changes minds for people who don't want to have to think on their own.
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Angus Stewart
commented
@nooneparticular - that is a real shame. We have three bins: food recycling; non-food recycling; and general waste. All cocllected on a Monday and dealt with differently by the council. We also have a green sack for garden re-recycling that is collected bi-weekly. The recycling is a big business (the food becomes fertilizer - and all those houses involved get a free bag of fertilizer for their gardens each year as a thank you for participation).
Get onto your council about it - if in the UK they should be collecting and recycling. -
nooneparticular
commented
Most products in supermarkets do not arrive in cardboard boxes any more. The few that are used are usually so unsubstantial that would not safely be utilised for packing your shopping. Most of the stuff arrives on a carboard tray and is wrapped in plastic. Its actually more secure that cardboard boxes would be in some cases and much cheaper to both use and to machine wrap the products.
Supermarkets like plastic bags. Paper bags cost more than plastic bags and shoppers want and expect free bags. They will encourage you to bring your own bags it saves them money. They will encourage you to buy a 'bag for life' as it is a source of income for them.
The truth of the matter is peopel like plastic bags. How many people these days actually own a shopping bag. How about a no bag you can't shop policy.
Most people do not recycle and many councils still only pay lip-service to recycling.
I have a blue bin for recycling. I keep it unused in the garage as there is no collection time or day scheduled for it.
Having no means of conveying my recyled rubbish to a recyling centre have an old metal bin in which I burn most of mine when I have too much. Batteries and paint etc I just put in a carrier bag under other rubbish in the normal bin.
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Anonymous
commented
Here in Italy plastic bags were banned at the beginning of last year. They now produce only paper or biodegradable... come on Britain!
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Tony Tate
commented
I have been thinking along the same lines as this for a long time now. lets get rid of plastic packaging, its so not needed!!
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Keir bottrill
commented
I agree Angus, thank you for posting this.
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Glenn Stevens
commented
Great idea Angus, i've voted to the max.
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Anne Mead
commented
this is a great idea lets finally get rid of all this plastic. Also on supermarkets when they deliver your orders why not give you a box with all your order in rather than pack into plastic carriers and then you return it empty the next week
