Tesco has doubled the price of its plastic bags - here's why

If you’re quickly popping into the supermarket without a reusable bag you can now expect to pay a little more, with Tesco increasing the cost of its plastic bags again - doubling the price from 10p to 20p.

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The increase in price brings the supermarket in line with competitors Asda and Sainsbury’s. Morrisons currently charges the most, at 30p per bag.

Why has the price doubled?

Tesco says its decision to double the price of carrier bags is intended to encourage all shoppers to reuse bags and cut down on unnecessary plastic.

Research into the use of single-use plastic bags in England showed that when the mandatory carrier bag charge was introduced in 2015, plastic bag sales in major supermarkets dropped by 86 per cent.

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Morrisons and Waitrose plan to eventually get rid of plastic bags all together.

Mixed reaction to price rise

Environmental groups praised Tesco’s decision, but called for a greater rise in price to align with their recommendations.

Christina Dixon, from the Environmental Investigation Agency, said, “Our recommendation is selling bags for at least 70p to truly drive the change we need to protect our environment.”

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However, some have criticised the increase in price, with one church minister telling The Sun, that the rise in price could affect the most vulnerable.

In the Covid era, he pointed to carers being unable to use their patients' bags because of the risk of infection, with the new charge increasing the cost of their daily or weekly shop.