The Co-op is to replace plastic bags for life with compostable and renewable carriers as it seeks to reduce the use of plastic.
The Co-op’s initiative follows in the footsteps of grocer Morrisons, which earlier this month said it would become the first supermarket to stop providing bags for life.
The Co-op maintained that bags for life have “become the new single-use carrier” and that the switch would allow customers to buy a “low-cost, low-impact bag with a sustainable second use”.
The retailer is rolling out compostable bags for 10p and sells its lowest-cost reusable bag for 50p.
The shift came ahead of the imposition of a new plastic bags levy.
Co-op Food chief executive Jo Whitfield said: “Increased use of bags for life has led to a sharp rise in plastic use. With over 1.5 billion bags sold each year by retailers, this remains a massive issue for our industry as many shoppers are regularly buying so-called bags for life to use just once.
“We will be ceasing the sale of bags for life when current stocks are exhausted. We believe that it should be mandatory for all retailers to report on the sales of all of their reusable bags, not just single-use bags.
“This policy would enable a fuller understanding on the impact of the levy and its true effect on shopping behaviours when customers are making decisions at the tills.”
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