The WRAP figures show a total decline in all types of carrier bags issued to 4.5 billion (41%) over the years 2006-2010 – effectively saving 39,700 tonnes of material from entering the waste stream. This decline must also be seen against a trend of significant growth with new branch openings leading to sales increasing by 6.3% by the signatory supermarkets during the same period.

Paul Marmot, Chairman of CBC welcomed the latest figures and said, “This shows the outstanding success of the voluntary scheme and great credit must go to retailers and consumers for demonstrating that a voluntary route is far preferred to punitive bag taxes. Significantly, the biggest decline in so called single-use bags has come from Wales where consumers are being threatened with a 7p bag tax next year in spite of being the UK’s best performers under the code - achieving a 15% reduction in the last year.”

The figures from WRAP also reinforce the major reduction in bags used per person which has more than halved to 100 bags per person per year over the period of the voluntary scheme. The greater use of recycled content and the production of thinner bags has also led to a 65% fall in the amount of virgin plastic used in carrier bags.

“All of this is evidence of a continuing trend achieved by cooperation and education rather than using a stick to change consumer habits,” said Barry Turner of the UK Packaging and Films Association, “The WRAP figures contrast sharply with irresponsible press speculation from certain media and demonstrate that UK consumers can determine their own route to responsible environmental action. We should also not lose sight of the real carbon footprint of a single carrier bag which is extremely low due to the efforts of our industry. One car trip to the supermarket is equivalent to two years consumption of single-use bags.”