# Almost 6 in 10 people want plastic bag levy to benefit green charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/10/24/almost-6-10-people-plastic-bag-levy-benefit-green-charities/
- Published: 2019-10-24T08:30:52+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Environmental and recycling charities are the most popular choices for recipients
of the plastic bag levy, with most people thinking the money should go to charity,
according to new figures from Charities Aid Foundation.**

October is the fourth anniversary of the introduction of the 5p plastic bag levy.
[CAF](https://www.cafonline.org/)’s research found that nearly seven out of ten (
67%) agree that profits from the levy should go to charities. Over half of those
asked (54%) said they would be more likely to shop at a supermarket if they knew
the shop donated the levy proceeds to charity and 59% singled out environmental 
or recycling charities as where the levy should be directed.

CAF found that 77% of those surveyed thought the levy was a positive step to protect
the environment.

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The survey also found that shoppers are adopting new habits since its introduction,
with almost eight in ten people (78%) saying they now reuse plastic bags more often
and less than one in five (17%) saying they resent having to pay for their shopping
bags. Only one in eight said the 5p charge had been an inconvenience to shoppers.

Retailers are not legally required to donate levy proceeds to a good cause, but 
so far have donated the majority raised – £167 million – to charity.

CAF has worked with four major retailers to distribute nearly £43 million of that
levy money to charitable causes since the scheme was first brought in.

However, Klara Kozlov, Head of Corporate Clients at CAF said that some retailers
have not yet fully seized the potential that this money can bring to charities and
that big retailers could make the most of the public’s enthusiasm for the scheme.

> “Whilst the big supermarkets we work with – Co-op, Aldi, M&S and Sainsbury’s –
> have all donated the vast majority of plastic bag levies to a variety of great
> causes, there is still awareness to be raised and work to do to make sure more
> of this money finds its way from retailers to charities which are making such 
> a difference in our communities.”
> “We know that shoppers are not just in favour of the levy, they are very keen 
> for the money generated to be put to good use, especially when focused on environmental
> issues.
> “With Extinction Rebellion protests on the streets and the school strikes for 
> the climate movement continuing to engage a new generation, consumers are more
> and more inclined to spend their money with retailers that share their values.”

 * **[Single use plastic bags charge increases to 10p](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/04/06/single-use-plastic-bags-charge-increases-to-10p/)**(
   6 April 2021)
 * **[Primark bag levy proceeds raise £1.5m for CHAS](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/09/07/primark-bag-levy-proceeds-raise-1-5m-for-chas/)**(
   7 September 2021)
 * **[Poundworld raises £768,206 for Marie Curie in four years](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/15/poundworld-raises-768206-marie-curie-four-years/)**(
   15 November 2016)

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