Outrage about the 5p tax on carrier bags swept across Britain at the end of last year – well, not Wales, we already had this tax – but what’s all the fuss really about? Sure you have to pay 5p anytime you want a carrier bag but is it really the end of the world?
No. In fact, this move could be a great thing for packaging in the UK. That’s right, we said it! This tax is a good thing and here’s why:
No More Flimsy Plastic Bags
You may have noticed it yourself, but there has been a steady drop already in the number of single use plastic bags being used. If you’re paying for a bag then you demand a certain quality and that means that you get much better bags for your 5p. This is great because it means you don’t have to worry about all your groceries breaking the bag as you walk home from the shops.
Increase in Printed Carrier Bags
Seeing as you’re now paying 5p for a carrier bag in the UK, most people are going to hold onto them for longer than they would when they were free. This means that more companies should be taking the time to get some really cool custom printed carrier bags made up. Not only is this great for businesses as they can get their branding out there, but customers are much more likely to reuse bags that look good.
Better for the Environment
There is no denying that the reduction in single use carrier bags has dropped – when it was introduced in Wales in 2011 carrier bag usage dropped from 351 million to 77 million in a single year! This means that there is over 75% less bags making their way to the landfill every year. In addition to this however, many companies are beginning to roll out biodegradable bags to reduce the impact on the environment even more. These typically compost into nothing but water and CO2 in a matter of weeks, which is great news for everyone!
More Types of Bags
Give it a year and people will completely forget that they got bags for free and they’ll be delighted anytime they receive a quality bag. This means that we can expect to see a wealth of paper carrier bags, high quality plastic and even material bags coming into the market. While this may not be exciting for non-packaging enthusiasts, it represents a big change and a great twist for consumer facing packaging.
Benefit Independent Grocers
If enough people really do feel outraged by this bag charge, then they could easily avoid it by supporting local, independent shops. While this isn’t likely to see a large impact on the large supermarkets, it could be an extremely positive move for independent stores. They’ll still have their own printed carrier bags, but they aren’t required by law to charge for them which could prove to be that tiny extra measure that drives them forward.