Are retailers “bagging” the carrier bag levy in England? An exploratory enquiry

Abstract

This paper examines the business impact of the legislation in England requiring retailers to charge consumers for single-use carrier bags. The legislation impacts three key stakeholders-Government, retailers, and consumers. The primary focus of this study is, however, from the perspective of retailers and how this group of stakeholders may have benefitted from the charge. Retailers are using the collected revenues to promote their image in the marketplace and presenting themselves as corporate social responsible entities. For retailers, the charge provides an avenue for bolstering their carbon footprint as consumers are expected to reuse their plastic bags-i.e. the "bag for life" as they now have to pay for them. At the same time, the proceeds are helping some retailers to top up their coffers which to some extent implies that there is some misuse or abuse of the policy by retailers.

Retailer Volunteerism as a Plastic Shopping Bag Governance Tool: Shoppers’ Reflections and Contributions to Environmental Social Marketing

“…By reducing pollution and improving public health, voluntary initiatives by retailers are aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability and societal well-being (Dauvergne & Lister, 2012). In what has been dubbed the ‘green revolution’ (Humes, 2011), plastic bag-centred initiatives by retailers include the introduction of zero plastic bag shops, curbside recycling, sale of reusable bags, voluntary fees and adopting of smart packing guidelines (Dauvergne, 2018; Jory et al, 2019; Luis & Spinola, 2010). To achieve this, most retailers have adopted various environmental sustainability blueprints.…”

“…The introduction of voluntary initiatives has stimulated sustained debate due to their self-regulated nature (Dauvergne, 2018; Jory et al, 2019; Nielsen, 2017). For instance, Nielsen, 2017 argues that voluntary initiatives are employed by retailers as a ploy to enhance corporate brand value and gain consumer trust.…”

“…In the same vein, Dauvergne (2018) opines that voluntary initiatives should be construed as a business-oriented strategy of deflecting public scrutiny to the massive environmental injustices perpetrated by companies. Jory et al, 2019 concurred by stating that, by advocating for self-regulation through voluntary initiatives, retailers are asserting their structural power thereby avoiding environmental responsibility. To address these perceptions, Dauvergne (2018) argues that sincerity in voluntary initiatives by retailers should be assessed based on massive investment in plastic bag infrastructure, such as recycling facilities, consumer education, including a commitment to the virtues of a circular economy.…”

“…The perception of symbolic corporate social responsibility can be addressed by investing some of the funds from environmental initiatives to meaningful environment-enhancing community projects. Retailers in Southern Africa may consider following the practice by United Kingdom retailers of ploughing back a portion of plastic bag levies into community projects (Jory et al, 2019). Moreover, retailers need to understand that symbolic corporatism does not translate to improved reputation because, as noted by Walker and Wanj (2012), environmental performance is easily discernible.…”

Considerations, benefits and unintended consequences of banning plastic shopping bags for environmental sustainability: A systematic literature review

“…Single-use plastic shopping bags (SUPBs) are a significant source of environmental pollution ( Jambeck et al, 2015 ; Xanthos and Walker, 2017 ). Improperly disposed SUPBs clog waterways resulting in flooding ( Martinho et al, 2017 ), impair the visual appeal of landscapes ( Xanthos and Walker, 2017 ) and reduce the recreational value of seashores ( Jory et al, 2019 ). The magnitude of this problem has resulted in the growing tide of an anti-plastic bag sentiment characterised by the implementation of several interventions that include bans, taxes, nudges and voluntary initiatives ( Clapp and Swanston, 2009 ).…”