12:16pm Monday 2nd June 2008
By Press Release
Reusing your carrier bags could save throwing away over 200 shopping bags each year. This message comes as the Environment Agency teams up with Hemingway Design and jute bag manufacturers Jutexpo to bring limited edition World Environment Day bags to ASDA stores in Clapham.
The unique bags hit ASDA stores on World Environment Day this 5 June. The bags aren't just better for the environment, half the profits will go to the international charity Water Aid, which helps the world's poorest people gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. With just 100 bags per store, retailing at £2.96, you'll have to get there early to get lucky.
Wayne Hemingway of Hemingway design, said, "These bags show you can be stylish, and do your bit for the environment. Britons use an estimated 13 billion disposable bags each year, many of which go straight in the bin - that's an awful lot of rubbish that needn't be there."
Lydia Wyeth of the Environment Agency, said, "Taking small steps like reusing your bags when you go to the supermarket help make a difference to the health of our planet. This World Environment Day, change your routine and see what you can do."
Barrie Turner, Jutexpo's founder and CEO, commented: "We are delighted and very proud to have our bags chosen to help promote such an important date in the world's calendar. We must all do what we can to help the environment. Using a shopping bag over and over again is a simple but very effective way to contribute."
Julian Walker-Palin, Head of Corporate Policy for Sustainability & Ethics at ASDA, said, "We want to make protecting the planet easier and more affordable for our 15 million customers; we believe these designer 'bags for life' are the best way to encourage shoppers to change the habit of a life time and start reusing their bags instead."
World Environment Day is a United Nations Environment Programme event founded in 1972. Since 2006 the Environment Agency has worked with Hemingway Design and Jutexpo to create distinctive World Environment Day reusable shopping bags.
2008 is the first year that the pioneering bags have been available to buy in shops. The deal is unique to ASDA, who were named 'Multiple Environmental Retailer of the Year' at the 2007 Retail Industry Awards.
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