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Asda's 'bag for life' giveaway
12/05/2009
National supermarket Asda has today officially launched a two week 'bag for life' give away. This initiative will boost the supermarket chain's impressive carrier bag reduction figures, which now sits at 30 per cent across all Scottish Asda stores.
Plastic bags will be replaced with re-usable bags at check-outs (excluding self-service) free of charge for two weeks. Asda is committed to meeting a 50 per cent reduction target in carrier bag use (as agreed with the Scottish Government).
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, visited the newest Asda store in Edinburgh to officially launch the initiative.
Speaking at the launch today, Mr Lochhead said:
"It's very encouraging to see Asda's work here today and its efforts to reduce the unnecessary use of carrier bags. A significant number of Asda's Scottish stores are already above this 50 per cent target. The Scottish Government prefer voluntary routes for reducing carrier bag usage and it's great to see a global name like Asda working to achieve to meet the target.
"In February, UK figures were announced demonstrating carrier bag use had fallen 26 per cent in 2008 compared to 2006.
"Of course, carrier bags are just part of our work with retailers; we are also working with them in other areas, such as food waste and packanging.
"The store in Leith also has excellent public recycling facilities and ASDA already recycles its own waste at its Falkirk Recycling Centre using the same vehicles that deliver goods to its stores to return materials for recycling, thus saving on emissions. "
David Paterson, Asda's Scottish Affairs Manager said:
"When it comes to carrier bags we are trying to change the habit of a lifetime, but not at our customers' expense. Instead of penalising shoppers at a time when they are already feeling the pinch, we want to incentivise customers who choose a re-usable bag. That's why for the next two weeks we're removing standard issue carrier bags and replacing them with free reusable bags for life in all our 48 Scottish stores. Our bag for life giveaway will help our customers to do even more to reduce their use of plastic bags and help the environment. We're delighted to be working with the Scottish Government to get the message across to our customers to remember their bags for life when they do their shopping."
The on-site recycling centre includes: clothing and textile and shoes; books and music; paper; packaging (cardboard and plastic bottles); clear, green and brown glass.
In a year the ASDA Falkirk Recycling Centre recycles 29,005 tonnes of card, 3,301 tonnes of plastic, and issues 12,124,725 plastic food trays - every plastic tray avoids the use of one cardboard box. The trays are cleaned onsite and reused by suppliers.
Other key facts on ASDA and sustainability:
- aiming to send zero waste to landfill by end 2010
- committed to reducing food packaging by 30 per cent by end 2009 versus 2005 levels
- consumer electronics will use 25 per cent less energy by end 2010 versus 2007 levels
- committed to reduce carbon emissions in existing stores by 20 per cent by end 2012 versus 2005 and by 30 per cent by end of 2009 in new stores
- ASDA will save £25.1 million in 2009 through sustainability measures allowing investment in lower prices for customers
- in 2009 ASDA aim to take 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions out of their business