Single-use plastic bag sales rise in England despite levy

ENGLAND – In England, sales of single-use plastic bags have increased by 7% in the 2024/25 financial year, reaching a total of 437 million bags, according to recent government data. 

This marks the first increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, when hygiene concerns drove a temporary spike in usage. 

The data, compiled from 102 retailers, indicates that each person in England purchased an average of eight single-use plastic bags over the year, spanning food and other retail sectors.

The rise comes despite a 10-cent charge on single-use plastic bags, introduced in 2021 after an initial 5-cent levy in 2015. 

While the charge has reduced bag sales by 79% since 2017, the recent uptick has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current measures. 

A waste charity highlighted that the growth in online grocery shopping, particularly the packaging methods used for deliveries, has contributed to the increase.

“We’ve seen a shift in consumer behavior with more reliance on online deliveries, which often use plastic bags for convenience,” said Thomas Baker, a consultant at a waste reduction organization. 

He noted that the surge in e-commerce, accounting for 27% of retail sales, has driven demand for single-use bags.

Among retailers, Ocado reported the highest sales, with 221 million bags sold, a 30 million increase from 2023. 

The company attributed this to a growing customer base. 

“Our closed-loop recycling system allows customers to return bags for recycling, with 89% participating,” an Ocado spokesperson stated. 

Similarly, Morrisons reported an 88% return rate for recyclable bags, while Sainsbury’s has begun transitioning to paper bags to curb plastic use.

A recent update from a grocery industry news outlet on August 26, 2025, revealed that major supermarkets like Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and the Co-operative Group saw a combined 6% rise in single-use bag sales, totaling 164 million bags. 

However, Asda and Marks & Spencer reported slight declines. Tesco and Waitrose, which halted single-use bag sales in 2021, remain outliers in the trend.

Efforts to address the issue are underway. Sainsbury’s announced plans to phase out plastic bags entirely, expecting a significant drop in sales next year. 

Morrisons is expanding its bagless delivery system, currently covering over 50% of its delivery areas. 

The government, in a statement, emphasized its commitment to reducing plastic reliance, with Environment Secretary Steve Reed launching a taskforce to develop a waste reduction roadmap. 

Despite these efforts, the data suggests challenges remain in curbing single-use plastic consumption.

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