Is it just me or is charging 50p for a paper bag at M&S food outrageous?

I never pay for the paper bag in M&S, I just take one on the odd occasion I’m without a bag. Like others have said, they’re not better than a re-usable plastic bag in a number of ways. They go straight in the recycling when I get home, never re-use them.

It really annoys me this money grabbing initiative that all shops seem to do. The tax on bags was brought in as a government tax to reduce plastic. It did not go to the retailer it went to government and worked, now the majority of people bring their own bags and food shops no longer have throw away plastic bags. Now clothes retailers are starting to charge for paper bags for clothes!! Who brings their bag for life bags when clothes shopping? Plus this money is not a tax it is a retailer charging you for clothes and then the paper bag to hold them in. Complete piss take

It's not being a "smug twat". It's not remembering either - my wee fold up shopping bag is permanently in my handbag so I don't have to actively remember to take it, that's just where it is. And I have got into the habit of folding it up and putting it back in my bag when I get home.

If you don't want to do that then fine, but then you can't moan about being asked to pay for a paper/plastic bag.

Because then people won’t bother to bring their own, and we need to reduce single-use items. Paper bags still have a carbon footprint in their production and distribution.

I love how some people will jump on every opportunity to be a smug twat. It’s a bag ffs. You always remember one. Well down. 👏🏻

I can't get that worked up about it. I.keep a proper shopping bag folded up in my handbag so if I do need something on the way home from work I can get it home without a paper bag disintegrating in the rain.

“Bag maintenance (remembering to always have one) is such a fricking chore!”

No more of a chore than always remembering keys, purse and phone when you leave the house, if you decide to make it a priority.

“paper is recyclable so ought to be free!”

This attitude of “it’s recyclable so it’s fine” is so common and so wrong. We should still be trying to avoid anything single-use, whether it can be recycled or not.
Recycling is not a perfect process and many things end up not being recycled.
Producing the (recyclable) things such as paper bags and then distributing them in the first place has a big carbon footprint.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. In that order. So reducing the amount of stuff we use is the most important and recycling is the least preferable option.

Morrisons, Boots, M&S etc. are also making a significant profit out of this, too. A casual search will show you that these bags cost less than 10p when bought in bulk. So, a five-times mark up.

The stores are simply taking advantage of the fact that people do not know how much these bags 'should' be, and will be prepared to pay anything if they've forgotten to bring a bag.

https://www.carrierbagshop.co.uk/paper-bags-by-colour/brown-paper-bags/premium-flat-handle-brown-paper-bags.html

not unreasonable at all. Maybe you'll remember to take a bag in future now?

I have the worlds tiniest handbag, and even that fits a folded up shopping bag in it.

Not everyone has a car!

I have bought those but didn't realise they cost 50p!
I have only ever used them once. I can't imagine one would last 100 times. They aren't that strong and are also awkward to fold and put in a handbag.

All these explanations as to why poor old M&S have simply no choice but to charge 50p for a paper bag, are red herrings.

its just a grift. Like absolutely everything else these days.

I think they’re quite amazing really. I moaned to the cashier about one on a very rainy Christmas shopping trip , and she assured me they’re very waterproof. It really worked in the rain.
not like the primark paper bags, the m&s ones can be reused loads.

TK Maxx do excellent bags (the ones by the till for 99p or 1.29p) - last for ever, and have shoulder straps. I often go there just to get a shopping bag.

Tiny fold up bag in your pocket or handbag. You can even get ones that cliip on to your belt or keys.

I don't have a car and alwys have a small fold up bag stashed in my handbag.

I ran out of my own bags yesterday. I bought a huge reusable bag in Primark for £1. Very happy with that and will use it lots.

Yes that's good if you're shopping by car.

But when you're walking or using public transport it's not so good.

Because it’s a business and it cost the shop to buy the bags in the first place.

YABU. Take a bag. If you forget, you pay for one, whatever the shop has decided they are worth. Can’t remember the last time I had to buy a bag.

You won’t forget your bags again will you? Job done. Just keep some bags in the car.

The only people buying Primark bags are the ones doing ‘hauls’ on TikTok 🙄

Tell that to my DH who has been using the same Sainsbury’s bag that he keeps in his back pocket for 2 years. They last ages

I totally agree with charging for any packaging. It has a £ cost and environmental cost to produce and recycle when it's useful life is done
Just bring your own. Keep one or more in the car, a tiny folding one in your bag, carry a tote bag or rucksack.

I sometimes forget bags, it happens.

If I have bought too much to stagger to the car with a teetering tower of shopping in my arms, I usually prefer to pay the £4 or so for a totally indestructible bag that will last forever, it feels like much better value. Much more useful than a paper bag.
I ended up with a zip up Lidl cool bag the other month, and I’ve been using it for all my shopping trips since.