Move will cut bag use by 20 million
Ikea is to become the UK's first major retailer to charge customers for plastic bags. The Swedish retailer will charge shoppers 5p per bag with immediate effect, rising to 10p in September.

Ikea environmental manager Charlie Browne said: 'The UK is addicted to plastic bags and we are paying a high price for this in environmental terms.

'We want to discourage customers from one-off use of carrier bags and help customers make an environmentally friendly choice.'

Ikea also plans to switch to using biodegradable bags and lower prices for reusable bags. The company believes the decision will cut bag use by 20 million next year - last year it gave away 32 million bags.

The move follows a successful two-year charging trial in Edinburgh, which led to a 90 per cent drop in consumption.

Ikea stressed that all proceeds would be donated to the environmental organisation Community Forests.

Discount retailers such as Aldi and Lidl already charge for bags in the UK, while B&Q have been trialling a scheme.

The Environment Agency praised the move as a 'great example' to other companies.

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