UK retail chain to cut plastic carrier bag use by half

Booths, the UK grocery retail chain, is setting an eco-friendly example to other supermarkets by dramatically reducing the number of plastic carrier bags handed out in its branches.

The firm, which has 26 outlets throughout Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Cheshire, is close to reducing their use of plastic bags by 50% – a feat that no other UK supermarkets have managed to match without charging for bags.

Over the last four years, Booths has reduced the number of carrier bags used in stores from 29,201,250 in 2006 to an estimated 15,441,900 in 2010.

According to the firm, this reduction has cut 400 tonnes from the amount of carbon used in making bags for the chain.

Colin Everest, a spokesman for Booths, said: “We’re delighted to mark the end of a year with such a major green achievement. Booths has taken its commitment to reducing the number of plastic bags used in our stores very seriously and our staff have worked hard to achieve this goal.

“We also want to thank our customers for their support – these figures show that they are keen to make changes that benefit the environment and the efforts they are making are having a major effect.”

Chelmsford introduce new locations to collect plastic bottle bags for recycling

Chelmsford borough Council has increased the number of places where people can collect additional plastic bottle bags for recycling in an attempt to make it even easier for people to recycle their waste.

The new locations will include local amenities such as libraries, the Mobile Customer Information Service and parish council offices. By using these sites, the council will not only save money, but will also help to spread the recycling message into new areas of the community.

The council currently supplies each household with a year’s supply of plastic bottle bags, but some residents use more plastic bottles than others, and can sometimes run out. This scheme has been implemented to address this need.

Research has shown that 11% of the contents of the average household’s waste consist of plastic, and 40% of this is made up of plastic bottles. However, currently only 3% of plastic bottles are recycled. By recycling just one plastic bottle, the energy saved is equivalent to that needed to power a 60 watt light bulb for six hours.

Councillor Janette Potter, the Cabinet Member for Waste Management and Recycling, stated: “The provision of plastic bottle bags through outlets at the heart of our communities is part of our continuous efforts to give residents efficient and high-quality services.”

DS Smith’s Dumbarton sheet plant bought by Boxes and Packaging

Boxes and Packaging, the corrugated sheet plant group, has branched out into Scotland for the first time with the purchase of DS Smith’s loss-making Dumbarton sheet plant.

With this acquisition, Boxes and Packaging, which has an annual turnover of roughly £45 million, now has twelve sites in all.

The sheet plant, which makes around £3 million sales every year, has 30 permanent staff, all of whom have been transferred to Boxes and Packaging.

Ian Loggie, the joint owner of the firm, commented: “The acquisition continues to widen our geographical reach as it’s our only sheet plant in Scotland. It’s our intention to keep growing, and while at £3m turnover this is a relatively small plant, every little helps.”

He also indicated that his company would most likely not be seeking more sheet plants in Scotland. Boxes and Packaging’s sister sheet feeder company Board 24 already has a presence in the country with a plant at Larkhall.

Both Boxes and Packaging and Board 24 are part of the same group as the award-winning corrugated packaging and design company Inspirepac.

Bob McLellan, chief executive of DS Smith Packaging, commenting on the sale of the sheet plant, stated: “We felt that selling it would be in the best interests of our employers and our customers.