ACS

Environment Minister Jane Kennedy and Britain's leading supermarkets have agreed a 50 per cent cut in the number of carrier bags given out by spring 2009.

The Government agreement with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) covers seven of Britain's major supermarket chains. The agreement to reduce the volume of carrier bags provided to customers by 50 per cent against 2006 levels, covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The number of bags saved by spring next year through this agreement would fill 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or fill the Royal Albert Hall one and a half times.

Today's pledge is also a step in the right direction to reach a 70 per cent reduction in the longer term, that the Government has signalled that they are looking to achieve.

The announcement comes as the DEFRA voluntary agreement to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% of 2006 levels, which ACS is signed up to, draws to an end.

Today’s announcement is likely to lead to the delay and possible abandonment on the Government enacting on the enabling powers included in the Climate Change Bill. These would have lead to the Government introducing a voluntary charge on single use carrier bags.