Supermarket Tackles Plastic Pollution with New Initiative
- Co-op to ban ‘bags for life’ from all stores
- 29.5 million bags for life removed each year, weighing 870 tonnes of plastic
- Compostable carriers to be rolled out to all stores
- Government increasing single-use plastic bag cost to 10p next month
- Morrisons also banning plastic carrier bags
- Co-op CEO Jo Whitfield calls for mandatory reporting of reusable bag sales
The Co-op is set to become the latest supermarket to ban ‘bags for life’ from sale across its 2,600 stores. The retailer will also roll out compostable carriers to all stores as an alternative option. This follows a similar decision by rival chain Morrisons, who pledged to remove plastic carrier bags from their stores over the next year. Co-op CEO Jo Whitfield stated that increased use of ‘bags for life’ has led to a sharp rise in plastic use and called for mandatory reporting on all reusable bag sales.
Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about Co-op’s decision to stop selling ‘bags for life’, their reasoning behind it, and their plan to introduce compostable carriers as an alternative. It also mentions the government’s plans to increase the cost of single-use plastic bags and quotes Jo Whitfield, CEO of Co-op Food, discussing the issue of increased plastic use due to ‘bags for life’ and calling for mandatory reporting on all types of carrier bags sold by retailers.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about Co-op’s decision to stop selling bags for life due to their environmental impact and introduces a more sustainable alternative. It also mentions the government’s plan to increase the cost of single-use plastic bags and calls for transparency in reporting reusable bag sales by major retailers. The article stays on topic and supports its claims with evidence, making it informative without being overly noisy or misleading.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The decision by Co-op to stop selling bags for life and introduce compostable carriers may impact plastic production companies.
Financial Rating Justification: This article discusses a financial topic, as it pertains to the supermarket industry and its approach towards reducing plastic usage. The decision of Co-op to stop selling ‘bags for life’ and introduce compostable carriers can potentially affect the sales of plastic products and impact companies involved in plastic production.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.
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