M&S replaces plastic bags with paper carrier bags in all stores as part of sustainability push

The paper bags will replace M&S’ ecoloop plastic bags and are designed to offer “all the benefits of plastic bags but without the same environmental impact”.

The paper carrier bags will be available across the retailer’s food, clothing and home sections and follows M&S’  ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ initiative launched earlier this year, which aims to reduce 10 million units of plastic annually from click-and-collect orders in clothing and home.

The retailer has also eliminated 75 million units of plastic from its food section, where the majority of its plastic product packaging is used.

M&S’ director of corporate affairs Victoria McKenzie-Gould said: “We are taking the latest innovation in M&S Food – which moved our popular rice and grains packaging to paper bags and boxes, removing 5.5 million units of plastic – and applying it to our carrier bags. From today every store across the UK will offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper bags at checkouts.

“The bags are replacing our ecoloop plastic bags for life and sold alongside our range of durable tote bags; and we are introducing a strong, robust bag in food and a simpler one in clothing and home, reflecting our different shopping missions.”