Good old bags

SIR – Tesco is to withdraw the 5p plastic carrier bag in favour of the 10p “bag for life” (report, August 8).

Why can’t we adopt the American method of bagging our groceries in stout, biodegradeable paper bags?

These served our parents quite adequately for decades, have more aesthetic appeal than the plastic variety, and can be easily made from recycled materials. John Fletcher

Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire

SIR – My pension provider has kindly given me a canvas shopping bag emblazoned with the message: “Due to increased longevity, this may not be a bag for life”. Brian Rogers

Watlington, Norfolk