Since the ban on plastic bags a decade ago, the number of sales has fallen by 90%, however in 2025 and 2026, 399 million single use carrier bags were still sold in our supermarkets.
The figures from DEFRA do not include the sale of bags-for-life or other reusable plastic bags.
The research comes after the Government confirmed it would delay the rollout of household collections for flexible plastics in England under its Simpler Recycling reforms from 2027 to 2030.
Eurokey, a specialised supermarket waste sorting company are concerned that the recent announcement to delay the policy could mean that more than one billion additional bags are likely to end up in landfill
David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Eurokey said: “The carrier bag charge has been one of the UK’s biggest environmental stories in a bid to address single-use plastics. It shows that clear policy can change behaviour.
“The recycling sector is ready to play its part, but it needs consistent and timely policy to give businesses the confidence to keep investing in the domestic infrastructure.”
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