Plastic bag use in supermarkets has plummeted by 90 per cent following the introduction of the 5p charge in 2015.
New figures reveal that Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, The Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose sold 490 million less single-use plastic bags in 2018/19, almost half as much as the previous year.
The average person in England now buys just 10 bags a year from supermarkets, compared to 140 bags in 2014 before the charge was introduced.
Welcoming today’s figures, new environment secretary Theresa Villiers said: “Our comprehensive action to slash plastic waste and leave our environment in a better state continues to deliver results, with our 5p charge reducing plastic bag sales by 90 per cent in the big supermarkets.
“No one wants to see the devastating impact plastic waste is having on our precious wildlife. Today’s figures are a powerful demonstration that we are collectively calling time on being a throwaway society.”
Total single-use carrier bag sales reported by all the large retailers in 2018/19 fell 37 per cent to 1.11 billion compared to the previous year.
With government scientists estimating plastic in the sea is likely to treble in a decade unless marine litter is tackled, the news will be welcomed by campaign groups like Wrap.
Wrap’s UK Plastics Pact has enlisted the major retailers to use 100 per cent recyclable plastic packaging, as well as eliminating single-use plastics by 2025.
The government figures also show that the 5p bag sales have also contributed around £169million toward charities since the charge was introduced in 5 October 2015, with £22m raised in 2018/19.
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