Morrisons is bringing back a trusted old-school shopping bag to fight plastic waste.
The supermarket will start stocking £1 recycled cotton string bags for customers filling up on fresh fruit and vegetables in the greengrocers aisle.
It follows Morrisons' commitment to plastic free fruit and veg, which was rolled out in May.
Customers will be able to choose between the string bags of paper bags when buying loose fruit and vegetables, just like shoppers did in the 1970s and 1980s before plastic became the norm.
Natasha Cook, Packaging Manager at Morrisons said: "As we increase the number of loose fruit and veg we stock, we’ve listened to customers - who said they wanted plastic free bags to carry it home in. In our trials, customers said they felt a sense of nostalgia using the string bag - as it reminded them of shopping trips of the past.”
Earlier this year, Morrisons became the first supermarket to roll-out plastic free fruit and veg areas in its stores, allowing customers to choose from up to 127 varieties of loose produce. The new string bags will help customers to carry this unpackaged fruit and veg, helping to reduce the amount of plastic packaging needed for a weekly shop, Morrisons says.
The bags can be washed, re-used and are designed to carry up to the equivalent of 26 large baking potatoes. The 15mm holes should be small enough that items like garlic and new potatoes do not fall through the gaps.
In addition to launching the string bags, Morrisons is also introducing a re-useable flower bag. Costing £2, the bag is made from 100% natural jute.
At launch, the reuseable string bag will cost £1 and will be located in the Greengrocery area of Morrisons aisle. They are initially being trialled in four stores – Catcliffe, Guiseley, Halfway and Skipton – before being rolled out in stores across the country in later this year.
