Millennials most likely to pick up carrier bags at till, study finds

THEY are known as the eco-conscious generation – but research shows that Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to pick up plastic bags at the till.

Young adults have a reputation for prioritising environmental issues, but almost half of 18 to 34-year-olds confess to buying supermarket carrier bags at least sometimes.

Londoners and people with young children were also more likely to pick up bags at the till. Baby Boomers – those aged 55 or older – are the least likely, with just one in ten buying single-use bags. Younger people also prioritise plastic waste less, with 56 per cent rating it as an important issue compared with 73 per cent of over-55s.

Helen Bird, of the charity Wrap, which produced the report, said younger people’s busy lives meant they were more likely to forget to take reusable bags to the shops. “They’ve got so much other stuff going on in their lives, that perhaps this just isn’t top of their agenda. Similarly, people with kids at home are also more likely to buy a bag at the till than others.

“You can imagine trying to leave the house with young children and forgetting the bags. Forgetting the bag is a really big reason why people are buying bags,” she said.

It came as the Government said a price rise to 10p for plastic bags would come into force from May 21. The previous

5p charge had led to a 95 per cent drop in plastic bag sales in major supermarkets since 2015. The new rules also extend to smaller retailers such as corner shops, which had previously been exempt. Concerns have been raised about the rise in use of “bags for life” – sturdier, more expensive bags that use more plastic than single-use bags.

In 2018 1.5 billion of the bags were sold, roughly one per household per week. In response, both the Co-op and Morrisons have announced plans to remove these bags from their stores.

Businesses are being encouraged to give the proceeds from single-use bags to “good causes” and £150 million has been donated since the scheme began.

James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “We strongly welcome the inclusion of local shops and other small businesses into the successful plastic bag charging scheme, which not only helps the environment but is also a great way for retailers to raise money for local and national charities.”

1.5 billion

The number of ‘bags for life’ that were sold in the UK in 2018. This equates to one bag being bought per household per week