Co-op to replace single-use plastic bags with biodegradable version

'Food wrapped in plastic has become too much to swallow', says supermarket chief

The Co-op already sources 100 per cent of the energy for its stores from 'renewable sources' and plans to make improvements in its supply chain (Reuters)

The Co-op supermarket is to replace all of its single-use plastic bags with biodegradable alternatives which can also be used as compostable containers for food waste.

The supermarket will remove 60 million plastic carrier bags from its shops as it rolls out the new version, beginning with 1,400 shops across England, Wales and Scotland, and then to all 2,600 premises.

The introduction of the bags is part of an “ethical strategy” the supermarket is launching later this week, which will aim to reduce environmentally damaging plastics with alternatives and also battle food waste.

“The price of food wrapped in plastic has become too much to swallow and, from today, the Co-op will phase out any packaging which cannot be reused,” said Jo Whitfield, retail chief executive of the Co-op.

“The first step to remove single-use plastic will be to launch compostable carrier bags in our stores. They are a simple but ingenious way to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic shopping bags.”

The new bags will cost 5p, though the shop will continue to sell “bags for life” made of plastic at 10p, and even stronger bags for £1.

The shop’s plans will see all its own-brand packaging become “easy to recycle” by 2023.

It has promised to use a minimum of 50 per cent recycled plastic in bottles, pots, trays and punnets by 2021, and has said all its difficult to recycle own-brand black and dark plastic packaging, including black ready meal trays, will be eliminated by 2020.

The Co-op says it already powers 100 per cent of its stores from renewable energy sources, but has said it will aim to tackle greenhouse emissions through its supply lines.

The announcement comes the day after discount supermarket chain Lidl said it would remove all black plastic packaging from its fruit and vegetables by the end of the month, and all black plastic from fresh meat and fish by August 2019.

This week the UK parliament announced it was also taking steps to replace single-use plastic food containers with compostable versions and would stop selling plastic drinks bottles, and condiments in plastic wrappers.

Last week Waitrose also said it was removing plastic bags for loose fruit and vegetables and would be getting rid of 5p single-use plastic bags from its shops early next year.