Reducing the use of carrier bags
Together we are making the difference
At Sainsbury's we've been reducing the impact of plastic bags on the environment since the 1980s.
We're working on making it easier for our customers to reduce, reuse and recycle carrier bags.
Firstly, we’re helping you to reduce the number of bags you use. We have been selling our Bags for Life for around 15 years. They are made from 100% recycled plastic and all the profit from selling them goes to a community project fund.
Secondly, we have helped accelerate the pace of change by giving away 15 million Bags for Life on our Make the Difference days in 2007. As a result of customers reusing Bags for Life we estimate we issued 100 million fewer bags in 2007 than in 2006.
Thirdly, all the free bags in Sainsbury’s have been made from 33% recycled plastic and 10% chalk since 2006. This means that around 6,500 tonnes of plastic is saved every year.
In addition we encourage customers to recycle their bags instore and last year around 85 million bags were recycled in this way.
Of course we want to go further. We’re committed to reducing the environmental impact of our bags and with your help believe we can go much further in 2008.
So a big thank you to everyone who is already doing their bit.
Yours sincerely,
Justin King
Chief Executive
