Originally published in the North Norfolk News, May 2008. Lightly proofread from the surviving column copy, with routine sign-offs or unrelated asides trimmed. The views, figures and circumstances are those of the period.
IN February 2008, Gordon Brown set out to banish plastic bags forever by threatening action against the supermarkets that aren’t doing their bit to get customers thinking green. They soon got the message, and now each supermarket is coming up with their own ideas to tackle the situation.
Last week, during my weekly food shop, one supermarket was doing its bit by giving away 10 million free reusable bags to shoppers nationwide, and introducing stronger versions for around twenty pence.
But this idea wasn’t completely welcomed with open arms – with many customers kicking up a fuss that only one free bag was given for every purchase. Others clearly had no interest in what the supermarket was trying to promote and continued to use the free plastic bags provided.
Even though I only spent an hour in the store, it appeared to be a common theme not only residing in the young, but the elderly too. But what can be done to get us teenagers involved?
With a reusable bag, it can be used again and again. But as a teenager, I don’t always plan to make a trip to the supermarket when in town and I don’t do a ‘weekly shop’ like the adults do. This is where the unique selling point is lost.
A plastic bag isn’t seen as ‘cool’ but they are fairly strong and they are easy to carry around town. They can double up as wrapping paper when time is short, and are convenient to have lying about in cars when your mate is feeling ill after a night out.
The supermarket alternatives don’t have the added extras, they cost more, and they don’t have the street credibility that all teenagers would like them to have.
Although Sainsburys did manage to make their bags somewhat fashionable at one point last year, this came with a flaw. Their new bags from top designer Anya Hindmarch retailed at £5, but the limited production of just five hundred meant that they were soon ending up on eBay for nearer £200.
Whilst it may be a generalisation, the elderly have their bags on wheels, baskets, and mobility scooters to fill with their groceries before they become stuck. For us teenagers, we don’t all have cars to leave them additional bags lying around, and so we’re stuck with having to use a rucksack – something that would be a huge hassle if the security alarms go off when you leave!
Furthermore, how many times have you seen a young man holding up the queues trying to open a plastic bag? This is the same demographic that desperately wants a green alternative but cannot find one that is efficient and works for him.
It is also his stubbornness that probably means he will be unwilling to pay that small charge for a bag that is a free advertisement for wherever he has chosen to shop with that day, or the larger cost for the unbranded nylon bags that some places also have to offer.
Consequently, whilst Aylsham may have become a ‘plastic bag free zone’ this month, I firmly believe there’s a lot more work to be done before we can banish the plastic bag forever. The supermarkets may have a variety of alternatives made available at an additional cost, but until a suitable alternative is made for the younger generations I can only see my generation going red rather than going green…