EDITORIAL: Why are shops starting to charge for paper bags?

Why are shops starting to charge for paper bags, writes Aoife Sheehan.

I recently was abroad and found myself in a Primark in Lille, where I was introduced to the concept of only bringing one’s own bag or buying a new reusable one at the till, as there was no paper option.

I was curious when Primark had outlawed paper bags in this particular French location, “Since New Year’s 2023” replied the shop assistant.

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Recent news that Penneys will soon start charging for paper bags here in Ireland did not surprise me.

Many stores like h&m, Vera Moda etc have been charging for paper bags for a while now, in a bid to combat climate change and to be a more sustainable company. Those working in these shops hope that customers will understand the change, as it will take some time to get used to at the start. I fear some backlash from people who may not understand the reasoning behind the change, thinking it is a money making opportunity for the company.

The reason most retailers give for this change is that the fee helps to contribute to environmental initiatives and less single use bags will be more eco friendly. But is this excuse justified at all? Retailers say they want to reduce the use of single-use carrier bags, and the litter they can cause, by encouraging people to reuse bags. In a bid to make this happen, they will now be charging for paper bags in shops like Penneys, if they are not already doing so. Some argue it is to cover the cost of these paper bags, and for profit reasons.

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In August of last year, Brown Thomas received backlash as they started charging 60 cents per paper carrier bag. They quickly defended their decision, stating that all profits from the sale of paper carrier bags will be used to support Crann – Trees for Ireland, which aims to plant 100,000 trees in Ireland over the next 10 years. Retailers like primark will have to communicate why they have made their decision once the changes come in, in the next few weeks.