Every year we get through over 12 billion carrier bags in
the UK – that’s all of them, not just Tescos. Sadly, we’re
not talking about disposable ones here, but those usually
thrown away after the shopping has been unpacked. Put
another way, as the bags go in the bin, the one and a half
million tonnes of oil required to make them goes down
the drain.


At Tesco, we want to reverse this
environmentally unfriendly trend by
changing the way we all shop. This is
why we introduced our reusable Bag
for Life in 1996 and are today
championing it as every season’s
must-have bag. Lots of our customers
don’t know that once you buy a Bag
for Life for only 10p, you can’t lose –
or lose it at least. Whenever it wears
out we will replace it free of charge;
all you have to do is remember to
bring your worn out one to the till on
your next shop.


The beautiful thing about the Bag for Life is that it pays for
itself in environmental terms once used five times, so get
into the habit of using yours by putting it back in your boot
after each shop. Not a lot of customers realise either that
we do three types of Bag for Life too: a small version,
a standard version, and a posher, more expensive version
made of reinforced fabric. Each type is available at our
standard tills so you can make up your mind which one
to pack once you’ve filled your trolley.


Our Bag for Life designs are another good reason to pick
one up. Two new designs are introduced every season. Our standard version has become an iconic, highly prized item.
Click here to view the gallery