The British government has forecast there will be 6 billion fewer bags in circulation and a boost to the environment, thanks to a 5 pence (6 cent) charge on single-use plastic grocery bags in the U.K.

“Taking six billion plastic bags out of circulation is fantastic news for all of us – it will mean our precious marine life is safer, our communities are cleaner and future generations won’t be saddled with mountains of plastic sat taking hundreds of years to break down in landfill sites,” environment minister Therese Coffey said in a statement.

“The 5p charge has clearly been a huge success – not only for our environment but for good causes across the country that have benefited from an impressive £29 million raised,” Coffey added.

Animals can both mistake plastic for food and get tangled up in them, says the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Infections, strangulation and in serious cases death can be result of this.

“We are delighted to see that the bag charge in England is showing positive results. This is a significant reduction that will benefit the environment as a whole, and our sea life in particular,” the MCS’s Sue Kinsey said in a statement.

With the plastic bag charge proving to be successful in the UK, is a similar charge ob coffee cup next in line?

“Charges for single use coffee cups would also change people’s behavior, but also their perception that the item they have has a value,” Laura Foster, head of pollution at the MCS.

Faster said that in terms of reducing wastage a returns scheme could also have merit and add value to packaging.

“There are (also) a lot of studies on drinks containers – plastic and glass bottles and cans. Where there is a deposit refund system, it is rare to find these items littered because they are seen to have a value,” Foster added.

The use of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials also has a role to play even as the introduction of charges and refund systems can have an effect.

Edible six pack rings that had been made using the by-products of their beer making process “that instead of killing animals, feeds them” had been designed and prototyped by Florida based Saltwater Brewery announced that – alongside advertising house We Believers, the firms said earlier this year.

Another example of packaging with green credentials are the Ecoffee Cups. The makers of Ecoffee Cups describe them as being dishwasher safe and usable for years if looked after properly as they are made from organic bamboo fiber and non-GMO corn starch. Users can soak it in boiling water and throw it on their organic compost heap, where it would biodegrade after users are finished using their cup, the company also claims.

Foster said single-use packaging should be removed and designed so it can be recycled for food and other retail goods to be even kinder to the environment.

“Packaging which is a composite material, including different types of plastic, can be extremely challenging to recycle,” she added.

(Adapted from CNBC)

Categories: Economy & Finance, Regulations & Legal, Sustainability