Results released in July 2009 have shown that Waitrose achieved a 50 per cent reduction in the number of single use bags issued to customers in May 2009 compared to May 2006. This has contributed to the significant 48 per cent collective reduction achieved by all signatories of the Government's voluntary agreement. This target was set by the Scottish Government, Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment in agreement with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and its supermarket members in 2008.
This achievement has been accomplished through a number of initiatives including promoting our Waitrose Bag for Life and other reusable bags, Partner training, prominent communications, encouraging customers to reuse their existing bags and introducing bags made from 33 per cent recycled material that carry stronger messaging about reuse and recycling. We will continue our commitment to building on this success, by encouraging and educating customers to use alternatives to the standard carrier bag.
Read more about our efforts to reduce carrier bag use in Our views.