Asda to axe single-use plastic bags in bid to reduce plastic waste

Asda has become the latest supermarket to join the war on plastic waste, promising to reduce plastic “wherever it can” from its supermarkets and to ensure any remaining plastic is “as recyclable as possible”.

To do this, the retailer says it will phase out single-use plastic bags by the end of the year, and shoppers who don’t bring their own bags will instead have to buy a bag for life. 

These bags are made of much stronger plastic and therefore last much longer. 

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As well as this, the supermarket will replace plastic cups and straws in its cafes and officed with paper alternatives. 

Asda has stated that it will also reduce the amount of plastic used in its own brand products by “at least 10%” over the next 12 months.

“Where we are able to go faster and harder to remove avoidable plastics from our products, we will,” said Asda chief executive Roger Burnley.

“Our logic is to remove plastic wherever we can, and where it is required, to make it as recyclable as possible.”

The announcement follows similar commitments from UK retailers such as Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons who have also pledged to cut down their plastic waste.