Bradford-based Morrisons is to become the first supermarket to stop selling plastic carrier bags in all of its stores.
The supermarket chain will switch from offering plastic “bags for life” to a paper alternative – and will become the first UK supermarket to stop using plastic carrier bags completely in the process.
Morrisons said the removal of the plastic bags for life would begin in Scotland this month, followed by England and Wales over the course of the next 12 months, following a successful trial in eight of its 500 stores last year.
Morrisons’ chief executive, David Potts, said: “We have been listening hard to our customers over the past year and we know that they are passionate about doing their bit to keep plastics out of the environment.
“Removing all of the plastic bags from our supermarkets is a significant milestone in our sustainability programme.”
Almost 100 million plastic bags will be removed in total, saving 3,200 tonnes of plastic a year, according to Morrisons.
Morrisons says the reusable paper bags will cost 30p each and are recyclable, water and tear resistant, while being able to hold up to 16kg – or 13 bottles of wine, the same as a plastic bag for life.
Paper bags will be sold alongside string, jute, cotton and reusable woven bags, which are priced between 75p and £2.50.
Morrisons has also removed all plastic bags from its fruit and vegetable areas in store, offering brown paper bag alternatives instead.
Since 2017 Morrisons has removed and made recyclable over 10,000 tonnes of plastic and is on track to hit its 50% plastic reduction target by 2025.
