Charges for single-use plastic carrier bags in England

Carrier Bag Charges

 

As of October 5th 2015 all large retailers must charge a minimum of 5p on all single-use plastic bags. All small-medium retailers do not have to charge, but are being urged to volunteer.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities

 

Criteria of a single-use plastic carrier bag:

 

• Unused - it’s new and hasn’t been used previously for sold goods to be taken away or delivered
• Plastic
• With handles
• 70 microns thick or less

 

As a retailer, it is your responsbiliy to:

• Charge at least 5p a bag (including any VAT)
• Make every effort to ensure that you’re charging for self-checkout bags
• Keep a reporting year’s records for 3 years from 31 May in the following reporting year
• Send records to Defra on or before 31 May following the end of the reporting year

You must also record for the whole reporting year:

• The number of bags supplied
• The gross and net proceeds of the charge
• Any VAT in the gross proceeds
• What you did with the proceeds from the charge

If the retailer doesn't comply, the local authorities can:

• issue a non-compliance notice with steps you must take to correct a breach
• impose a fixed penalty
• impose a discretionary penalty
• order you to advertise that you’ve broken the law, what their penalty was and how you are now complying
• recover the cost of the investigation from you if you breach the law

 

Noble Gift Packaging offers a wide range of alternatives to plastic bags, check them out here

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Sustainable Plastic Bags

In these eco conscious times, people are becoming more and more conscious of the waste they produce and its effects on the environment. Traditional plastic grocery bags are becoming the focus of a lot of negative attention: there are billions used and discarded every day, overflowing landfills and straining the environment. However, the plastic bag remains the most practical packaging option for a number of industries. Polyethylene plastic is cheap to produce, easy to recycle, and light to ship; from a consumer viewpoint, plastic is an attractive option as a waterproof, reusable form of packaging.

The plastics industry is responding to the demand for more eco friendly options by favoring new, exciting sustainable technologies in the manufacturing process, making plastic bags easier to recycle and biodegrade. There are also a growing number of plastic-based recyclable and reusable grocery bag alternatives available. The plastic bag’s reputation is due for a positive change!

At Noble Packaging, we carry a number of environmentally friendly plastic packaging products in our Zero Tree catalog. From biodegradable shopping bags to reusable, recycled polypropylene shopping totes, we have the right bag for any use and any budget.

Keep reading to learn about our line of eco friendly plastic products and to find the packaging option that’s right for you and your business!

Biodegradable Plastic Bags

Our biodegradable plastic bags are made of high quality LDPE plastic, so they’re extremely durable and flexible during use. However, these bags quickly degrade once they are disposed of, with no harmful residues at the end of their lifecycle.

When discarded into environmentally benign products, these bags degrade within a few months – this is years, even decades, faster than the average plastic bag. Even an orange peel can take up to 6 months to fully degrade; just imagine the difference that biodegradable plastics can make in the volume of consumer waste!

The secret is in our addition of Totally Degradable Plastic Additives (TDPAs) to the bags in the manufacturing process. TDPAs are an EPI certified technology which enables certain plastics to much more rapidly.

Biodegradable bags are a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional grocery bag – this sends the right message to customers by demonstrating your commitment to the environment and to the earth.

For more information on biodegradable plastic bags and TDPA technology, click here!


PET Bottle Bags

Noble’s PET line of bags is another great environmentally friendly choice: they’re made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. PET fibers begin as crushed plastic chips from recycled plastic bottles – these chips are heated, stretched into threads, and then woven into the material that constitutes our bags. The result is a durable, recyclable fabric that has the same look and feel as fabric.

Not only are our PET bags made of 100% recycled material; one reusable PET shopping tote can replace a multitude of traditional plastic bags! Reusable bags like this are also a great branding opportunity – your customers will think of you every time they use your silk screened tote!

Non Woven Fabric Bags

Finally, our non-woven fabric bags are great reusable alternative to the much-maligned plastic grocery bag. Made of recycled polypropylene, these bags are 100% recyclable and biodegradable! Like our PET bottle bags, these make great reusable shopping totes with the same look and feel as cloth.

Recycled polypropylene bags are an excellent replacement for plastic shopping bags and a greener alternative to other cloth totes. They’re also a much more affordable choice than most reusable shopping tote options, which is something you and your customers can feel good about!

So there you have it: plastic packaging products that are sustainable, reusable, eco friendly, and economical. There are a lot of great new environmentally friendly options and alternatives in the packaging industry, and we’re here to help you learn about them! If you have any questions about any of these products, never hesitate to contact the Noble offices – we are here to help you make the right choices for you, for your customers, and for the environment.

ZeroTree Collection Introduces a Rainbow of Green Packaging Options

Noble has unveiled its ZeroTree collection, a brand new series of eco-friendly bags and packaging items designed to help conserve the environment and sustain the future of our planet.

We developed this stylish new product line using materials that help reduce reliance on trees, and using eco-manufacturing processes that minimize air pollution, water use and the use of harmful chemicals. Another goal we had in creating our ZeroTree collection was to encourage recycling and reuse. Our bags can be imprinted with your logo, which provides an incredible opportunity for increased brand recognition, since the reusable bags may be used for years after the original purchase.

Our new ZeroTree bags come in a wide variety of colors and styles, and are made from a range of popular environmentally-friendly materials, including stone, abaca plants, bamboo, jute, recycled plastic bottles, recycled polypropylene and cotton.

Other items in this innovative collection are biodegradable jute and cotton wraphia ribbons, jute cords and pouches, and wrapping paper and tissue shreds made from recycled materials.

Check out these gorgeous bamboo bags, which offer the look and strength of traditional paper bags without destroying trees. They are made of 100 percent bamboo fiber, and are biodegradable and recyclable. The bags are available in four different colors and are dyed with soy-based inks. Because bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and quickly regenerates, it has become one of the trendiest eco-fibers in countries that have traditionally relied on trees for manufacturing paper products.

Save the environment with style with these attractive jute pouches and ribbons. Jute's woven, textured look is gaining popularity with eco-conscious consumers everywhere. These super-strong pouches and ribbons can add beautiful natural accents to your packaging creations. Made completely of plant fibers, our jute products are biodegradable, recyclable and reusable. See our catalogue for a whole range of options, including our new line of jute bags.

Add some shine to your packaging with our brand new eco-friendly metallic bags. Believe it or not, these ultra-stylish gold and silver bags are completely biodegradable and recyclable. Made entirely of re

cycled polypropylene material, our metallic bags are just as strong as cloth bags, and are significantly less expensive.

The future is bright for eco-packaging

Noble is committed to providing you with all the latest environmentally-friendly packaging options. We hope you can take advantage of our ZeroTree collection. It's a great opportunity to show your eco-conscious customers the active role you are taking in preserving our planet for future generations.

We encourage you to advertise that you are using Noble’s ZeroTree products. If you would like to promote what you are doing to address environmental issues, just ask us. We can provide you with ready-to-display ZeroTree certification that will instantly get your message out.

For more information about our new ZeroTree line, read the press release here.

Our entire ZeroTree catalogue is available on our website at http://www.noblepack.com/Gift-Packaging-Zerotree.asp

Packaging: the ultimate brand statement

The choice of packaging is the ultimate brand statement. It is important to take the time to carefully choose your packaging to compliment both your products and your brand (company). We at Noble believe there are two fundamental aspects to choosing packaging. First there is the physical function, which in fact simply protects the product. Then there is the psychological function which is linked to consumer appreciation, and that is the one you have to get right! Luckily, at Noble we can help you with both these aspects by offering a wide variety of classic and innovative packaging products.

Companies continuously strive to showcase their brand. An ideal way of doing so is by repeated exposure of your company. By personalizing your packaging with your own unique logo, consumers will begin to identify with your particular image. Your company’s products and/or services will create an impression with customers and your branding will solidify this impression.

This brings us to the importance of creating a business logo that defines your company and its products. As we all know, a business logo is an essential part of a company's identity in the market. So whether you’re starting a new business or looking to revamp your image, our professional logo design team will help you embody the identity of your business with a custom designed logo.

Now that you have an identity, why not use it to promote your company by incorporating your logo into your packaging. If your company offers a product, be sure your logo is prominently represented on the packaging as this contributes to exposure for your brand. Here, Noble offers you many options to choose from; print your logo on bags, gift & clothing boxes, ribbons, labels, tissue paper, garment bags, jewelry boxes and more.

Nothing can match the convenience and style of bags. Gifts bags are an excellent option for most business. Choose from our wide selection of paper or plastic bags, add your designed logo and voila we have just helped you to create a silent salesman for your business.

Take part in the green movement with Noble’s new collection of ZeroTree bags and benefit from two great advantages. First, your customers will appreciate your commitment to the environment. Second, these bags are reusable; therefore they will keep on promoting your brand long after the initial sale.

Customized labels are an ideal and cost-effective way to promote your brand while adding a unique look to your packaging. We offer a wide range of sizes and shapes, available with either economical ink printing or luxurious foil printing.

Definitely think outside the box; for instance, if you use tissue paper, why not order some imprinted with your logo. Noble can help with its acid free tissue paper available in a variety of colors.

Our selection of ribbons adds that elegant final touch to your customer’s purchase. Print your logo on our double face satin, satin acetate or flora satin ribbon to compliment your packaging with a polished look while creating more exposure for your brand.

With most of our printing done in-house, you can count on Noble Gift Packaging for quick delivery. Our minimum quantities are available to all businesses: big or small. We can provide you with the best in low cost advertising with our wide range of quality personalized packaging. So increase customer awareness and ensure consumer satisfaction by having Noble Gift Packaging take your business image to the next level.

Noble Goes Green with Zero Tree

As the ‘green’ movement popularity reaches an all-time high, now more than ever retailers are looking for ways to demonstrate environmental commitment to customers. Noble is now “making it easy to be green and look good doing it” with its new collection of trendy ZeroTree environmentally responsible bags.

Made from materials such as stone, recycled PET, bamboo, jute and abaca plants, each one of our ZeroTree lines has its own story and each benefits the environment in its own way. Our eco-friendly products reduce reliance on trees, help minimize use of water, harmful chemicals and air pollution and encourage recycling and reuse.

Our bags also are stylish and a great marketing vehicle. They can be custom-designed with your company messages and in many cases reused and passed along — providing an added branding opportunity.

With the introduction of the ZeroTree collection, Noble is demonstrating its dedication to the environment. Now you can show customers your environmental commitment with a special bag that makes a statement — a green one!