​Co-op to raise £750,000 for charity from carrier bag profits

Ethical retailer the Co-op has pledged to donate profits from its entire bag range to community causes.

The Co-operative Food Group expects the move will raise as much as £750,000 in the next 12 months with all the money will be reinvested in community projects across Scotland.

From 20 October all retailers are required to charge customers 5p for single-use plastic bags.

But as well as the statutory charge, Co-operative Food Group will add the money it makes on the sales of its reusable shopping bag and new fold-away bags.

By going much further than we need to we’ll raise hundreds of thousands of pounds extra for good causes

John McNeill, Co-op’s regional stores director in Scotland, said: “We’re getting carried away with carrier bags, and it’ll mean bags more money for communities the length and breadth of Scotland.

“By going much further than we need to we’ll raise hundreds of thousands of pounds extra for good causes.

“It’s not just a commitment to local communities though, we also have a strong commitment to the environment and we share the aspiration of reducing the number of single use carrier bags that are distributed.

“By buying any of our range of carriers, customers will be contributing to the environment, as well as to good causes. Together we will reduce, reuse, recycle and reinvest in our communities.”

The 5p single-use carrier bag charge is introduced from 20 October, but The Co-operative Food’s new range of reusable carriers go into its Scottish stores from today (Wednesday, 8 October) meaning customers can begin raising money for good causes straight away.

The retailer said it would confirm which good causes can bid for the funding, and how they can apply, early in 2015.