# Green charity bag launched

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/08/01/green-charity-bag-launched/
- Published: 2007-08-01T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Marks and Spencer stores in Northern Ireland are the first in the UK to begin charging
their customers 5p for each plastic bag, with all proceeds going to charity. Marks
and Spencer regard this scheme as a pilot which they will consider rolling out across
the UK.

The province’s 14 M&S stores are introducing the charge as part of a major ‘green’
pilot project. M&S has revealed that they have distributed over 500,000 free ‘Bags
for Life’ to customers in Northern Ireland since they announced the bag trial.

The scheme is part of the company’s massive £200m project to encourage customers
to be more environmentally friendly. All money raised from sales of bags will be
donated to charity, Groundwork Northern Ireland, and used for environmental regeneration
projects in disadvantaged areas across Northern Ireland.

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Neil Hyslop, M&S divisional director for NI, said: “Since we announced the trial,
customers have been extremely supportive of our plans, which we hope will help us
determine how we can change behaviour and break the habit of using too many carrier
bags.”

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