# Plastic bag levy raises almost £10 million for charities, according to CAF figures

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/08/05/plastic-bag-levy-raises-almost-10m-charities-according-caf-figures/
- Published: 2016-08-05T09:30:47+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Nearly £10 million has been distributed to charities via the Charities Aid Foundation
by retailers including Aldi, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s since the levy was 
introduced in October 2015, CAF has revealed.**

CAF figures show that the levy had raised at least £29 million in total for good
causes in its first six months.

Aldi has raised approximately £1.1m by the sale of carrier bags in its stores., 
and has donated £580,000 to the RSPB as part of a three year partnership, according
to CAF. The partnership has enabled the implementation of a UK-wide education programme
with the aim of re-engaging children with nature. The remainder of the money has
been placed into Aldi’s CAF Company Account for distribution to other good causes.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

> Did you know that every 5p you spend on an Aldi carrier bag goes directly to the
> RSPB! [https://t.co/IAzpi9CQN0](https://t.co/IAzpi9CQN0) [pic.twitter.com/4Saq6LRZyh](https://t.co/4Saq6LRZyh)
> — Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) [January 3, 2016](https://twitter.com/AldiUK/status/683694357497577472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

Between October 2015 and April 2016 Marks & Spencer used 45.7 million single use
carrier bags in its UK stores. The net proceeds were £1.9m with the money raised
going to a number of charities via CAF with whom the retailer has worked for many
years including Breast Cancer Now, UNICEF and WWF.

Sainsbury’s removed all single use carrier bags from its stores in England, Scotland
and Wales, instead charging 5p for stronger, re-useable bags made from 100% recyclable
material. If they wear out the retailer replaces them free of charge. While not 
subject to the levy, profit from sale of the bags is donated by individual stores
to local charities via CAF with over a thousand good causes supported overall.

> Props to [@sainsburys](https://twitter.com/sainsburys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) for
> their new tougher, reusable, perpetually replaceable 5p bags!
> Less [#marinelitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/marinelitter?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)?
> [pic.twitter.com/05wQqFtWp6](http://t.co/05wQqFtWp6)
> — Richard Ticehurst (@RichTheTall) [October 6, 2015](https://twitter.com/RichTheTall/status/651379624941854720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

Klara Kozlov, head of CAF’s Corporate Clients team, said:

“Not only has the introduction of the plastic bag levy benefitted the environment,
but it has had a huge positive impact for charities. Millions of pounds has been
raised for good causes which has helped to fund vital work which otherwise may not
have been possible.

“By working with CAF, using CAF company account charitable accounts and creating
new strategic partnerships, retailers have maximised the opportunity to support 
national as well as local organisations. We hope they will continue to work together
to develop these worthwhile relationships which benefit so many good causes.”

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)