LONDON, 2015-7-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s is committed to being the UK’s greenest grocer. In our 20×20 Sustainability Plan, we have committed that by 2020 we will make sure that our own packaging has been reduced by a half compared to 2005.
We have reduced the size and increased the recycled content of our single-use plastic carrier bags. All of our orange plastic carrier bags are now made of 50% recycled content and are 100% recyclable. We encourage customers to re-use their carrier bags by offering a Nectar point for each bag they reuse. We also offer a range of bags for life and have installed signs in our car parks to remind our customers to bring their reusable carrier bags with them. Our supermarkets have plastic film recycling bins so that customers can recycle carrier bags and other types of plastic such as bread bags. Our groceries online delivery drivers will also take bags back from our customers to recycle.
In Wales and Scotland, we no longer provide customers in supermarkets with free single use bags which would be subject to the carrier bag levy. We chose instead to focus on the promotion of bags for life in supermarkets, which are made of 100% recycled content and are 100% recyclable. This encourages our customers to re-use bags.
Wales – 2014/15 reporting year
| Number of chargeable bags supplied | Consideration received | Charge received | Net proceeds of the charge (minus VAT) | Difference between charge and proceeds (VAT) |
| 1,726,152 | £86,308 | £86,308 | £71,923 | £14,385 |
Scotland – 2014/15 reporting year
| Number of chargeable bags supplied | Consideration received | Charge received | Net proceeds of the charge (minus VAT) | Difference between charge and proceeds (VAT) |
| 1,612,144 | £80,607 | £80,607 | £67,172 | £13,435 |
As part of our commitment to make a positive difference to our community, the net proceeds from the carrier bag levy are added to our Welsh and Scottish Community Grant funds. Charities and community groups in Wales and Scotland are able to apply for up to £500 per group to go towards an event, activity or initiative. Any money that is not awarded by the end of the year is donated to our Welsh and Scottish stores’ local charity partners.
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