Since the UK government introduced a 10p charge to all businesses for single-use plastic bag usage, the number being used has fallen drastically. Despite this, there are still millions of plastic bags being manufactured and sold every year. There are also many bags being used that appear more ‘eco friendly’ but still use plastic coatings and adornments like ribbons, which are non-recyclable. These bags are often used for very short periods of time before being discarded, and end up in landfill or the oceans.
Retailers and brands can encourage customers to bring their own reusable bag when shopping. When an additional bag is still needed, paper or uncoated card should be considered. Biodegradable bags should be to government standards to know that they will degrade under certain conditions.