Bag to Basics: Why and how free shopping bags should be removed from London’s shops

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Our report calls on the Government to introduce a national levy on all free throw-away shopping bags to reduce their environmental impact. London Councils’ proposal to ban the distribution of free shopping bags is a welcome measure, however the report finds a national levy, similar to the one introduced in the Republic of Ireland, is a more effective and efficient means to cut the number of bags issued by retailers.

The report also stresses the need to set more ambitious targets and recommends immediate changes to the government agreement. The Committee found some supermarkets had already exceeded their 25 per cent target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags suggesting that current targets need urgent revision, with more robust, sector specific and new, tightly defined targets set for all retailers.