To think the Body Shop shouldn't be charging 5p for paper bags?

[FatherReboolaConundrum]

Went in to the Body Shop at the weekend and the tills had a sign saying that from today bags would cost 5p. Since they only use recycled paper bags, not the plastic bags that are covered by the new law, AIBU to think the Body Shop is being very cheeky indeed?

They can charge whatever they want for their bags! I don't think it is cheeky at all.

They can choose to charge whatever they wish for their bags; I also can choose not to shop there, and I will.

All bags including paper are being charged for now.

Cheeky gits if that charge has only come in to coincide with the plastic bag charge.

The Body Shop is wank. And totally up it's own arse.

I'm amazed they don't charge for entry.

In Scotland the charge applies to paper and plastic bags but in England I don't think they have to charge for paper ones. It's up to the body shop as to whether they charge or not tbh.

On a recent visit to Scotland we called for a McDonald's breakfast and was handed two bloody boiling hash browns and sausage burgers as I'd said no to a bag. I honestly thought he was asking if I wanted a carrier type rather than just the normal paper bags. I thought hot food would be an exception but apparently not.

They have to charge for them now.

Of course they can Still, but the wording was obviously designed to make people think that it was being introduced tody in order to comply with the new law, which I think only covers plastic bags, not their recycled paper ones. Making people think they have to charge 5p when they don't is cheeky.

Paper bags are exempt so they are just cheeky chancers. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34346309 Quite a good overview.

I agree Rebecca. The 5p everyone else charges goes to charity, I wonder where theirs is going?

No they don't have to charge for them Oysterbabe, paper bags are not included in the new law. Government guidance says:
A bag is considered as such if it has an opening and isn’t sealed. You must charge at least 5p a bag for carrier bags that are all of the following:
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.

Everybody needs to get the F over the bag charging. It's a good thing, it makes people use less. Even if they are recycled and paper, they stll have an environmental cost, it's just that cost is less that a plastic bag.
England has not gone far enough with this IMO, Scotland are charging for everything, including takeaways, and paper bags.

if you don't like it - don't shop there. Easypeasy

They're included in the law in Wales.

In the Republic of ireland (where plastic bags have been charged 15c tax for at least ten years) most big shops switched to paper to avoid the tax. Not much good in the rain though!

FUCKING OUTRAGE

Pretty sure they charged for bags before now, I'm sure I paid for one last time I was there (usually take my own bags).

I think it's like complaining about getting a speeding fine. If you don't want to pay, there's a simple solution.

It's just a habit to get into and no harder to remember bags than remembering say an umbrella on a rainy day.

And you don't have to take a bag.

Just because the bag is recycled doesn't mean it doesn't have an unnecessary environmental cost.

Charging for plastic bags is a good idea. Charging for paper bags is fine if that's what you want to do and probably also a good idea. I don't think it's fine to give a misleading impression that the law is suddenly forcing them into charging for something they are not required to charge for.

LOL Hullygully!

Get in the habit of always having a fold up bag in your handbag/pocket.

I was outraged when they stopped taking the bottles back to be refilled though. Decade old outrage.

I think the paper bags should be charged for too. Yes, they are biodegradable but the resources that go into them can be as much as the plastic equivalent not to mention the impact if the paper ones are sent to landfill when they degrade and produce Methane gas that is a pretty potent greenhouse gas. A good reason to compost at home btw.

Next up I want them to ban fruit and veg being wrapped in plastic. Once we get used to taking reusable bags for carrying shopping home. Taking smaller reusable bags for veggies wont be so hard.

YABU

It's to encourage reuse of bags and reduction of the amount of bags that get used once and thrown away. Take a bag with you for shopping or pay up.

I'm going to get a couple of these for things like clothes and toiletries to keep in my handbag. Machine washable too, so don't need to worry about using a manky carrier for nice clean clothes.

"I don't think it's fine to give a misleading impression that the law is suddenly forcing them into charging for something they are not required to charge for."

I think that is a fair point.

They never offer a bag in our BShop. The taking of a bag feels actively discouraged.

I'm guessing they are taking advantage of the timing of the charge for plastic bags to further discourage the use of unnecessary packaging. No bad thing.

That's not what I have a problem with Fudge (and christ knows who ever buys enough from the Body Shop to need a carrier bag in the first place). But I do have problem with a business making people think they they have to charge for something when they don't. But I'm obviously in a minority .