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Marks and Spencer has introduced a 5p charge for carrier bags this week.

The chain, which has Simply Food stores in Guiseley and Ilkley, handed out more than 15 million free reusable bags for life to customers in the last month in preparation to introducing the charge.

Charging for carrier bags is a major step towards the company's commitments to reduce carrier bag usage by a third and send no waste to landfill from its operations by 2012.

All profits generated from the charge will go to environmental charity Groundwork and be used to create or improve greener living spaces' such as parks, play areas and gardens in neighbourhoods around the UK.

It is expected that around 40 neighbourhoods will benefit in the next 12 months.

The store will also be making two additional changes to help reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags even further.

From May onwards M&S customers will be able to return any unwanted or used carrier bags to any till point or customer service desk at M&S stores for recycling.

It will also be the first major UK food retailer to begin to use a new standard food carrier bag made from 100 per cent post consumer waste in all of its stores nationwide.

This move will reduce the amount of virgin plastic M&S uses by 3,400 tonnes per year.

M&S bags for life, which are also made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, have reverted to their original price of 10p from Tuesday.

Stuart Rose, M&S Chief Executive said: "Our stores are now getting ready to introduce food carrier bag charging on May 6.

"This will be one of the most significant changes we've made since we launched Plan A last January and we believe that it will help us to reduce the number of single use carrier bags our customers use by around 280 million each year.

"M&S customers have certainly responded extremely positively to our bag for life giveaway and we hope that they will bring the bags with them each time they shop with us."

10:54am Sunday 11th May 2008

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