Marks & Spencer launches eco-shopping bag

The high street chain M&S has launched a new eco-shopping bag that helps prevent waste and reduce poverty among people living in Haiti and the Philippines.

The re-usable bag is made from 75% Social Plastic, which is plastic waste that has been collected and recycled by Plastic Bank, a social enterprise seeking to stop ocean plastic pollution.

Plastic Bank incentivises people in Haiti and the Philippines – two areas highly polluted with plastic – to collect waste and take it to one of 36 recycling centres in return for a wage.

Collectors can alternatively exchange waste plastic for blockchain digital tokens that can be used to buy essential goods such as food, water, cook stoves and fuel.

With its mission to create environmental and social impact by monetising waste, Plastic Bank prevents plastic from getting into the oceans while helping to improve people’s lives. Support from companies like M&S enables Plastic Bank to roll-out the initiative to more regions, more quickly.

‘M&S has powerfully responded to customer demand for sustainable products and created an immediate impact on the lives of our collectors,’ said Plastic Bank chief executive, David Katz.

‘The M&S team has been incredibly committed to our partnership and thanks to their support, Plastic Bank is empowered to stop more ocean plastic, help more people out of poverty and make responsible production the standard for businesses everywhere. We couldn’t be more pleased to start our journey together.’

Recycling centres in Manila sort the plastic by type and colour and shred it to create flakes, which are exported to Vietnam where the M&S bag is made.

Plastic Bank has recycled the equivalent of over 100 million plastic bottles since opening its first centre in Haiti in 2014.

The bag has been launched as part of M&S’s Plastics Plan, which includes removing 1,000 tonnes of plastic packaging in less than a year and replacing the 75 million pieces of plastic cutlery given out in its stores each year with FSC certified wood alternatives.

Natalie Tate, product developer at Marks & Spencer added: ‘With more plastic than fish predicted to be in the ocean by 2050, it’s vital that we all take action to minimise plastic waste. We’re reducing the amount of plastic we use as a business and developing smart ways to help our customers reduce the amount of plastic they use.

‘This is a strong, sturdy, practical bag to help our customers with their shop, but with the added benefit of reducing poverty and preventing more plastic getting into our seas by turning waste plastic into a tangible and re-usable item.’

The bag costs £1.30 and will be available across UK stores from tomorrow (6 November)