Repeat the Campaign against Plastic Bags

8.00.00am GMT Tue 16th Mar 2010

A second nationwide campaign is needed - will the Daily Mail pick up the issue again?

Liberal Democrats in Surrey have called upon the Daily Mail to re-launch its campaign against the use of plastic bags.

Their Environment Editor was contacted following the publication of an article suggesting that "degradable" Tesco plastic bags can be more harmful than those they have replaced. According to a Government study, the carrier bags which are designed to break down within three years, leave tiny plastic particles that might cause harm to wildlife. Tesco hands out around 500 million of these bags each year.

Apart from Marks & Spencer, most supermarkets still issue carrier bags on request. At Sainsbury's they are freely available on most check-outs though some staff ask customers "have you brought your own bags today?"

The Daily Mail campaign a couple of years ago was very successful in raising public awareness which, in turn, reduced the use of plastic bags. Most supermarkets sell Bags for Life, but with ordinary plastic bags still available, it is down to the consumer to make the choice. M & S's strategy of charging for plastic bags has had the most success in terms of reducing plastic bag use.