M&S brings in plastic bag levy

Marks and Spencer is to charge supermarket shoppers 5p per plastic carrier bag.

The charge is aimed at reducing demand for the bags, which campaigners say damage the environment.

Around 13 billion plastic bags are given out free to UK shoppers every year and take 1,000 years to decay.

M&S has announced it will give all food customers free long-lasting bags from early April for one month - with the 5p charge to begin on May 6.

It said money raised from the levy would be spent on improving parks and play areas across the country.

The move follows a trial at 50 stores in Northern Ireland and the South West of England which saw demand for polythene bags fall by more than 70 per cent.

The chain's chief executive, Sir Stuart Rose, said their trials have shown that customers want to do their bit to help the environment.

"Just imagine if M&S customers right across the UK cut the number of food bags they use by 70 per cent - that's over 280 million bags they'd be saving every year," he said.

"On top of this, our customers will be raising valuable funds to go to our partner charity, Groundwork, to invest in much-needed green spaces in our neighbourhoods."

Shoppers in Birmingham were cynical about the move, branding it a "rip off".

At Marks and Spencer Simply Food in Sutton Coldfield, Vera Claire, 69, said: "I think 5p a bag is too much. I can't go without the bags so I'll just have to pay.

"We feel as though we are being forced into paying for the bags, we have no choice. And 5p a bag will add up over a month."

Narinder Jandu, 33, said: "It is not practical to expect people to carry around reusable bags. I often do my shopping on the spot so I will have to buy their bags.

"It is yet another way to make money out of us. Marks and Spencer food is expensive enough to start with, without this.

"If they were truly concerned about the environment they could introduce paper bags. I don't believe that is why they are doing it at all."

M&S has been named Retailer of the Year at the inaugural Rosenblatt New Energy Awards for its 'Plan A' campaign - a five-year Eco Plan to become carbon neutral by 2012.

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