Welsh Carrier Bags

Sainsbury’s is committed to being the UK’s greenest grocer. Since October 2011, we have drastically cut the number of carrier bags that have been used by customers in Wales by 96%.

We replaced single-use carrier bags in all 24 of our Welsh stores with a new 5p basic bag-for-life. These bags encourage reuse, rather than continuing to issue single use carrier bags. The new bags are available exclusively in Wales, and are made from 100% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable at all Sainsbury's stores.

We also continue to minimise the use of carrier bags by offering a Nectar point to customers for each bag that is re-used. Over 560 million Nectar points have been given to customers for reusing bags in this way.

We have committed to donate 1p from the sale of every 5p basic bag-for-life towards the Local Charity Partner of each Welsh store. These charities include the Bridgend Food Bank and Maggies Cancer Unit in Swansea, and work in areas as diverse as Down's Syndrome research, through to toy libraries and food charities.

We have raised over £32,000 for Welsh charities from the sale of carrier bags - £19,605 was raised from the sale of new 5p basic bags-for-life and £12,790 was raised from the sale of online carrier bags.

This donation complements the £32,368.44 raised last year by customers and colleagues for their local charities through fundraising initiatives in store, such as fun days and sponsored activities.

Between 1 October 2011 and 14 April 2012, we supplied 306,960 single use carrier bags, equating to gross proceeds of £15,348 at 5p per bag. After VAT (of £2,558), the net proceeds of the charge were £12,790. We will donate all proceeds from the sale of single use carrier bags to Welsh charities and community groups through our newly created Welsh Community Grant fund. We will also donate 1p from the sale of every 5p basic bag-for-life to our local charity partners in Wales.

For further details about the Welsh Community Grant fund, and how to apply, please contact your local store in Wales.