Promotional Bags Ready for The Potential Plastic Bag Levy

The Government has announced this month plans to introduce a levy on plastic bags in supermarkets, highlighting the need for promotional bags.

It was put forward that 5p would be charged for all plastic bags used in England as a means of trying to discourage use. There has been concern highlighted over how the use of plastic bags impacts the environment, particularly in the disposal of the bags. When bags are disposed of they take many years to disintegrate and before they do they are a danger to animals. It has been suggested that a single use carrier bag takes up to 1,000 years to fully disintegrate. 

The charge is proposed to kick in during 2015 and will only apply to supermarkets and larger stores. A number of chains have already introduced a levy for bags and have reported less usage is plastic bags as a result. All proceeds from the sale of bags will be going to charities, so this is not a money-making exercise for the shops. 

Wales and Northern Ireland have been charging for single-use bags for a number of years, asking customers to pay for both plastic and paper bags when shopping. There are exemptions, for example, if a customer purchase meat products they are given a bag for free for hygiene reasons. Data has shown that in Northern Ireland particularly, usage of single-use bags has decreased by 80%. Retailers in Scotland will also be introducing a levy in October 2014. Environmentalists believe that this change will bring England in line with the rest of the UK and Europe. 

So, with two years until the levy is put in place, why not start promoting the cause with your own promotional bags?  A 'bag for life' campaign would not only save your customers some money but also promote your own environmentally friendly approach to business. 

There are lots of different bags you can choose from, each can be branded with your own logo and slogan. With two years before the changes come into place, you've got plenty of time to think about your campaign and launch it. Many supermarkets and shops already sell 'bags for life' but you could go one step ahead of them by giving your bag for life away for free.

Promotional bags are one of the most kept promotional items, on average, so you can guarantee these will give you lots of promotion!

Written by

Total Merchandise | Editoral Team

Our editorial team is drawn from a pool of experienced promotional merchandise product team members, account managers, marketers and other contributors. With such a wide range of skills and experience, they write about many aspects of promotional merchandise, wider marketing and business matters, as well as company news updates.

Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn

Total Merchandise
The TM Edit: Top British-Made Promotional Products

The TM Edit: Top British-Made Promotional Products

Have you ever thought about where your promotional products are made; whether they're manufactured in the United Kingdom or if they're made further afield? Well

Get Ahead of The Competition with Best-Selling Sports Merchandise

Get Ahead of The Competition with Best-Selling Sports Merchandise

With 84% of Brits having watched some sort of sport on the BBC alone last summer, it's fair to say that we're a nation of sports fans. Whether it was the FA Cup final, W

New Year, New Merch: The Best Products for Promoting Your Brand This Year

New Year, New Merch: The Best Products for Promoting Your Brand This Year

Fact: the new year is the perfect time to consider new promotional merchandise! It's a common trend that the start of a new year means a fresh start, so why not have the sam

How Total Merchandise Supported Smart Works With Charity Tote Bags

How Total Merchandise Supported Smart Works With Charity Tote Bags

The team at Total Merchandise always love to do what they can to support the work of the many amazing charities and organisations across the UK - so we were delighted to re

Why Promotional Products Work: The Value Of Merch For Your Brand

Why Promotional Products Work: The Value Of Merch For Your Brand

Okay, we might be biased but there really is no denying it: promotional products are an incredibly powerful tool for any UK business. Whether you're a start-up looki

Best Summer Merch Ideas To Keep Brand Awareness Hot In 2024

Best Summer Merch Ideas To Keep Brand Awareness Hot In 2024

It might feel like we've only just managed to leave winter behind but summer is fast approaching! And if you're looking for something that little bit different to bolste