UK retailers raise £10m for charities through plastic bag levy

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Aug 10, 2016

It was in October 2015 that a plastic bag levy was introduced in the UK.

 
Now, new analysis by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) shows that the levy has had a “huge positive impact" on a range of charities. Retailers including Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's have given nearly £10m to charities via CAF since the levy was introduced.

For example, between October 2015 and April 2016, Marks & Spencer used 45.7 million single use carrier bags in their UK stores. Proceeds raised from the bags were £1.9m.

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Klara Kozlov, Head of CAF’s Corporate Clients team, which works with 3,000 companies across the UK, said: “Not only has the introduction of the plastic bag levy benefitted the environment, but it has had a huge positive impact for charities. Millions of pounds has been raised for good causes which has helped to fund vital work which otherwise may not have been possible."

Since October 2015, large retailers must charge at least 5p for single-use carrier bags.