The amount of carrier bags used by major retailers in Scotland has dropped by 650 million since a five-pence charge was introduced a year ago, the Scottish Government has announced.

Data from major grocery retailers indicates that since the charge on single-use carrier bags was implemented on 20 October 2014, bag use has reduced by around 80 per cent over the year, with an estimated £6.7 million being donated to good causes around Scotland as a result of the charge.

The government estimates that the reduction of 650 million bags equates to around 4,000 tonnes of plastic material being saved annually, with a net carbon saving of more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Increases in the use of other forms of plastic bag such as reusable bags for life have been taken into account in this estimation.

The news comes just two weeks after England launched its own carrier bag charge, the last country in the UK to do so. The English launch has been marked by complaints from small retailers about the exemptions written into the English charge that mean only retailers with over 250 employees are obliged to take part.

No such exemptions have been included in the Scottish charge, and with information not yet available from smaller retailers, it is likely that drop in the number of bags used is even greater.

According to WRAP statistics based on data supplied by supermarkets, Scotland used around 800 million carrier bags in the year prior to the charge’s introduction at a rate of 12.6 per person per month, more than any other country in the UK. This figure had been rising since 2011, when Scotland used 750 million bags, or 11.8 per person per month.

As part of the Scottish charge, Zero Waste Scotland launched the Carrier Bag Commitment, which helped businesses to understand responsibilities. By signing up to the commitment, retailers agreed to report how many bags had been sold and how the funds received for bags had been used.

Morrisons, the Co-operative and Waitrose have indicated a reduction of 80 per cent, with Asda reporting a drop of 90 per cent, while Sainsbury’s has witnessed 100 per cent reduction of single-use carrier bags as the retailer no longer offers them to shoppers.

Reusing bags ‘becoming second nature’ to shoppers

To mark the anniversary, Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead visited an Aberdeen branch of Boots, a signatory of the Carrier Bag Commitment that has reported an 80 per cent decrease in carrier bag use.

Commenting on the figures, Lochhead said: “I thank Scotland for embracing this policy and showing we’re serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment. I am confident that Scotland is going to go from strength to strength in its bid to tidy up our streets and beaches, where litter has been a highly visible problem in the past.”

‘Positive effect’ in stores

Stephen Watkins, Head of Customer Experience North & East Scotland at Boots UK, added: “We want to help our customers care for the environment while making a difference in their local communities. We’ve seen a really positive effect in our stores in Scotland since the introduction of the charge in 2014, with an estimated reduction of around 80 per cent in carrier bag usage. We’ve also been able to offer significant support to Macmillan Cancer Support and the important work that they do for those affected by cancer in Scotland.

“From 5 October 2015, we are donating the net proceeds of the sale of these bags to BBC Children In Need. Together with our customers we can help make a difference to our environment and support community projects across Scotland the rest of the UK.”

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, added: “With retailers in Scotland reporting a reduction of 80 per cent in the use of single-use carrier bags, it’s evident that Scottish shoppers have embraced a new shopping habit. It’s not always easy to change our habits, but Scotland is proving it has this in the bag.”

Learn more about Zero Waste Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment.