Britain's leading supermarkets and high street shops have cut the number of plastic bags being given to customers by 3.5 billion a year, according to waste reduction agency, WRAP. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7913645.stm and http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/billions-fewer-plastic-bags-handed-out-1632392.html
“Shoppers cotton on to bags”: Nottingham shoppers have been swapping their plastic carrier bags for a cotton alternative. See the news item at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7886802.stm
See also “The Big Question: What more can Britain do to beat its addiction to plastic bags?” by Michael McCarthy, The Independent’s Environment Editor at http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-big-question-what-more-can-britain-do-to-beat-its-addiction-to-plastic-bags-1632284.html
Towards a Plastic-Bag-Free Kingston comments: "If Nottingham traders and shoppers can do it, so can Kingston. In fact, we have noticed more shoppers carrying their own bags and more traders becoming aware of the costs, both financial and environmental. It's good too that the big supermarkets are discouraging plastic bags - but we still think they could do better!"