to tell everyone to return the Tesco Bags For Life

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Can we talk about Tesco's Bags For Life because it's pissing me off.

So, everyone agrees that people using and chucking away carrier bags is an issue. Awesome! Government introduces a charge on all plastic bags. Tesco still offers the 5p bags but also 10p bags for life that they promise to replace forever. Good strong bags, nice strong handles. Great!

A while later they quietly get rid of the 5p bags. Fine.

Except now, having clearly realised that most people don't care enough to return a 10p bag, they've changed the design of the Bags For Life. Gone are the nice strong separate handles, instead we have holes in the bag itself which are nowhere near as strong. The plastic itself is much thinner. I've had these die after one use on some occasions. Yes, it's only 10p but it's also one more useless piece of plastic which I'm sure is because they know no-one will call them on their Bags for Life guarantee -- and the amount who do isn't enough to cost them more than they save with cheap nasty bags.

I get your point OP .
Perhaps the answer is that Tesco, and all other retailers, should be forced to give to charity the money raised from the sale of all plastic carriers, no matter what they charge for them, as they had to with the 5p ones.

YANBU.

It’s bad for the environment to produce a plastic bag that only lasts for one or two uses. I only buy those bags when I’ve ended up making an unexpected trip into the shops. Making the bags thinner doesn’t deter me from using them - they’re for rare occasions when I’ve been caught on the hop. Anything more than I can reasonably juggle in my arms needs a bag, so it may as well be a decent quality that gets lots of use afterwards.

I usually throw them away but will try to make the effort to take them back now. Doubt it will spur Tesco into action unfortunately.

The money does go to charity xx

You do realise why they are called “bags for life” right? It’s not because they will last ages, it’s because when they break you get them replaced, for free. What I hate about them is the design shape. Very crap for actually putting shopping in. Nothing fits right and it pisses me off. Also, I can’t believe that you have nowhere for a few reusable bags. The pram takes up be boot, so why not just throw a bag or two on top of the pram or wedged in a gap somewhere? Even under your seat perhaps. I cannot think why you have zero room.

Who would actually go in and replace them though obviously not enough people but I'm being charged for a crap bag these days and why are they 10p I would take these bags back if alot more people did it I suppose they would change it

I wash bags for life, I stick 'em in the washing machine with a bit of disinfectant and a tiny bit of washing powder on a quick wash then hang them out to dry. The neighbours must think I'm mad. Gets them clean though!

Totally get what the OP is saying. Basically, Tesco is just selling slightly more expensive and even more harmful plastic bags and slapping "for life" on their name to get round the legislation. They're also NOT giving anything to charity. Bet they're making a fortune.

(btw - I have Waitrose bags that are about 15 years old and nowhere near needing to be replaced. I live in the US now and totally intend to bring them back to the UK when/if they ever fail me, but I suspect that I may go first.)

We have these in Australia. In most large stores. The good thing is they cost $1, last for ages. They also fold flat, and can be stored under car seats!

I really want to buy a granny trolley bag because of this. It could hold so much stuff! But my 10 year old has vetoed it. Apparently it’s embarrassing 😒🙄

www.shoppingtrolleysdirect.co.uk/Funky.php?cat=59

I love these.

Not sure how relevant it is, but after paying I throw all my shopping back into the trolley and put it into bags and boxes which live permanently in my boot. Makes me impressively quick at the checkout.

But, but, OP... if you can’t fit a squashed bag in the car, where is a shopping filled one going to go? Presumably in the interchild war zone?

I love my string bags.

I have some reusable shopping bags that we bought in France in 2002. They're still going strong - one was in the shed until recently and even survived the best efforts of the resident mouse population. Which shouldn't be there

I make hubby get me French bags for life when he goes to France. They’re great. Am converted to them and string bags.

lol @ KittishInsane

I havent purchased a bag since the charge came in, I brought some big ones from Aldi and two fold up ones for my bag.

Dp however buys bags wherever he goes, we have bags of bags of bags....

kittiesinsane makes a good point... where do full bags of shopping go of you cant store empty ones? Im more invested in this than i need to be....

We have heaps of cotton bags, I don't know how, some were conference give aways, decorated by DD at guides, unclear origins. At least one is 20 yrs old. Between those & rucksacks & pannier bags & string bags (again, from multiple origins, many free), we rarely need carrier bags, too. Friend always grabs a cardboard box in Lidl, from their veg display, to put her shopping in.

Also you can use boxes

Not if you walk to the supermarket!

I still can't get used to using reusable bags, I just mentally add on a £ and scan 10 bags through when I start, they then get used as bin bags.
I thin' I need to get one of those set of trolley bags.

LighthouseSouth Yes, me! All the little bins in the house and the cat litter. I've just got to the end of my stash and now I'm having to buy plastic bags to use once, rather than using free bags twice. I hate the plastic bags for life. They're the wrong shape and size for the bins and the litter tray, and made of so much more wasteful plastic. The old, free, biodegradable ones were perfect.

I wish they used paper bags like a previous poster said. I also worry about the hygiene aspect if meat etc is in the reusable bags. It seems like there are a lot of studies about food poisoning and reusable bags!

^ I also used to use them as bin bags, instead I buy bin bags now which is way more expensive :/

I also now have to buy bin bags so no less plastic used, just less convenient.