UK retailers and industry organisations are joining forces in response to a call from government ministers to reduce their environmental impact.
Representatives from all areas of the retail sector, including the British Retail Consortium (BRC), have agreed to reduce the environmental impact of their carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008.
If the target is successfully achieved, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by up to 58,000 tonnes a year. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), this is the equivalent of taking an annual 18,000 cars off the road.
“This is an ambitious but very practical agreement and we are pleased that retailers have agreed to work with us and UK consumers in such a positive way,” said Local Environment Minister, Ben Bradshaw.
“Consumers are increasingly aware that they can make positive choices to help the environment in the way they shop. By signing up to this statement, the UK's retailers have also committed to help their customers to reduce, reuse and recycle their carrier bags.”
The agreement will involve participating retailers encouraging customers to reduce the number of bags they use, using more recycled materials in the manufacture of the bags themselves and recycling them where appropriate.
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