Asda, one of the UK's largest supermarket chains, has implemented a significant change to its online grocery shopping service, eliminating the provision of free plastic carrier bags for home deliveries and click-and-collect orders. This move, part of a broader corporate sustainability strategy, directly impacts how customers receive their online groceries and necessitates a shift in consumer habits. The decision, which follows a trial period, is designed to drastically reduce plastic consumption and aligns with the retailer's long-term environmental goals. For shoppers accustomed to the convenience of bagged deliveries, this change requires preparation, particularly for vulnerable customers or those who rely on the service for specific needs.
The retailer initially paused its use of plastic bags during the pandemic to ensure safe, contact-free deliveries. However, as operations returned to normal, Asda announced the permanent removal of the option to request bags for online orders. This policy shift means customers can no longer pay an extra 40p at checkout for bags, as was previously possible. The change was first implemented for orders placed from Friday, 30th April, according to one source, with another source specifying a nationwide rollout from 31st July following a successful trial in South-West England and Dartford. The initiative is projected to remove approximately 85 million plastic bags from production annually and save over 500 tonnes of plastic.
This decision makes Asda the first major UK supermarket to completely eliminate single-use plastic carrier bags from its home shopping operations, having already stopped offering them in its physical stores in 2018. In total, Asda estimates this will result in 375 million fewer plastic bags produced each year across its business. Simon Gregg, Asda’s Vice President for Online Grocery, stated that the retailer is working to reduce avoidable plastic wherever possible, acknowledging that this matters both to the company and its customers.
For most customers, the primary implication is the need to provide their own reusable bags or boxes when receiving a delivery. If a customer is shielding, vulnerable, or requires extra assistance from delivery staff, they can leave reusable bags and boxes at their door. The delivery staff will then transfer the shopping into these containers. To request this extra help, customers should use the delivery notes section when placing their order. It is important to note that Asda delivery staff will continue to use small, necessary bags for specific items, such as raw meat and loose produce, to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations.
The move away from free bags is part of a wider trend in the UK retail sector. Since the introduction of the 5p plastic bag charge in 2016, supermarkets have supplied 133 million single-use plastic bags in the 2022-23 financial year, a 99% reduction from the 1.33 billion supplied in 2016-17. However, the environmental impact of thicker, reusable 'bags for life' remains a topic of discussion. While these bags are designed for multiple uses, their eventual disposal and recycling present challenges. Most supermarkets, including Asda, offer a 'bag for life' programme where customers can exchange broken bags for new ones free of charge, with the damaged bags being sent for recycling. Asda's programme is noted for offering free replacements for damaged bags, a feature not universally available at competitors like Aldi or Morrisons.
Asda's broader environmental strategy includes significant reductions in plastic packaging. Since 2018, the supermarket has removed 6,500 tonnes of plastic from its packaging and reduced 290 million plastic items in stores last year. A company target is to remove 500 tonnes of plastic annually. Furthermore, Asda has introduced staff training initiatives to minimise plastic use in meat and fish packaging. The retailer also provides dedicated recycling points for plastic carrier bags and other flexible plastics at its 630+ UK locations, in partnership with Recycle Now. Customers are advised to collect clean, residue-free bags, remove labels, and use the Recycle Now locator tool to find their nearest store collection point.
While Asda's initiatives are significant, studies indicate that 42% of supermarket packaging remains unrecyclable, highlighting the ongoing challenge for both corporations and consumers. The removal of free carrier bags from online orders is a tangible step towards reducing plastic waste, but it also places the onus on consumers to adapt their routines. For deal seekers and environmentally conscious shoppers, this change underscores the importance of planning for grocery deliveries, reusing bags, and participating in recycling programmes to contribute to the collective effort of reducing plastic pollution in the UK.