With just two weeks until the introduction of 5p carrier bag charges in Scotland, The Co-operative Food has pledged to reinvest profits from its entire carrier bag range, and not just the 5p charge on single-use carrier bags, to good causes.
The Co-operative Food expects the move will raise as much as £750,000 in the next 12 months, and all the money will be reinvested in community projects across Scotland.
As well as the statutory charge, The Co-operative Food will add the money it makes on the sales of its new woven reusable large shopping bag, a new woven reusable small shopping bag (which doubles as a bottle bag) and new fold-away bags (all available for £1 each), as well as its redesigned 10p bag for life, and its compostable carriers (6p each and available from stores in locations where local councils have food waste collections requiring compostable bin liners).
John McNeill, Regional Stores Director for The Co-operative Food in Scotland, said: “We’re getting carried away with carrier bags, and it’ll mean bags more money for communities the length and breadth of Scotland. By going much further than we need to we’ll raise hundreds of thousands of pounds extra for good causes.
“It’s not just a commitment to local communities though, we also have a strong commitment to the environment and we share the aspiration of reducing the number of single use carrier bags that are distributed. By buying any of our range of carriers, customers will be contributing to the environment, as well as to good causes. Together we will reduce, reuse, recycle and reinvest in our communities.”
The Co-operative Food will confirm which good causes can bid for the funding, and how they can apply, early in 2015.
The new fold-away bags are made from 100% recycled materials are available in black or turquoise. The large and small woven bags, made from 80% recycled materials, are turquoise and decorated a with a “carrier bags are rubbish” design. The small woven bag can double as a bottle carrier. The bags can be recycled at Salvation Army textile recycling banks across Scotland.
