Supermarkets and other retailers cut the number of plastic bags distributed last year by 26 per cent as shoppers switched to reusable, environmentally friendly alternatives.

Figures released by government body Wrap – Waste & Resources Action Programme – showed the number fell from 13.4 billion in 2007 to 9.9 billion last year.

The reduction exceeded the voluntary target set in February 2007 to slash the quantity of plastic bags used by 25 per cent by the end of 2008. For the time being, the success has stopped the threat of a Government ban on free carrier bags.

Wrap said that since 2006 retailers have slashed the environmental impact of carrier bags by 40 per cent, measured by the reduction in the amount of virgin plastic used.

As well as reducing the number of carrier bags issued, retailers increased bags’ recycled content and lowered bags’ weight.

Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, introduced loyalty points for customers reusing plastic bags, helping to cut the number used by 2 billion. Others, such as Sainsbury’s, have removed bags from till points, putting the responsibility on customers to request them.

Wrap chief executive Liz Goodwin said: “Consumers deserve congratulations for these results as they clearly show we are moving away from using bags once to reusing bags often.

“They are also a credit to retailers who have worked hard to find innovative ways of helping us reuse our bags.”

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