Booksellers plan eco-friendly roll-out

Booksellers around the country are rolling out eco-friendly bags following Prime Minister Gordon Brown's warning that he would force retailers to cut down on plastic bag usage if they did not do so voluntarily. The Booksellers Association has already drafted a letter to the Department of the Environment about the issue. President Tim Godfray said: "We think [a reduction in bags] can best be done first through education—by bookshop staff talking to their customers and by POS used in the shops; secondly, by using less raw plastic in the manufacturing process; and thirdly, by
booksellers using bags for life."

Waterstone's is rolling out a new canvas bag priced at £2.99 across its 320 stores. Its existing plastic bags are made from 70% recyclable material, but booksellers have also been told not to assume that customers need a bag.

Borders intends to have new post-consumer waste bags, which are fully recyclable and biodegradable, in store by 1st May. Booksellers also ask customers if they need a bag. Geoff O'Neill, head of supply chain, said Borders was also looking at introducing a canvas bag.

W H Smith said it makes a donation to the Woodland Trust each time a customer declines a plastic bag. It has also signed up to the British Retail Consortium's commitment to reduce plastic bag impact by 25% by 2008. Foyles also sells two canvas bags, priced £1.50 and £4.99 and only gives out plastic bags if a customer requests them.