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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or are Boots for charging for paper bags?

90 replies

ImABeanBanana · 28/06/2019 00:47

I'm trying to reuse a tote bag for shopping but was caught out this evening when I went to Boots. When I went to the till I found the bags were paper which is great but I was then charged for it. AIBU or is this CF territory? Wasn't the idea that plastic bags had a charge due to environmental impact? I can't even reuse the bloody thing if I wanted to! I don't mind if it's like Flying Tiger or Sainsbury's and I get a tote but can't understand this.

AIBU?

OP posts:
StereophonicallyChallenged · 28/06/2019 00:51

Morrisons are doing the same. I assume they don't have to hand over cash on paper ones either Hmm

StereophonicallyChallenged · 28/06/2019 00:51

Oh, YANBU

Celticrose · 28/06/2019 00:55

Boots in the ROI give you paper bags for free

mouldyhousemouldylife · 28/06/2019 00:55

Yanbu

JaimeBronde · 28/06/2019 00:56

YANBU.
If Primark don't charge for paper bags (which I recycle) why the hell do Boots charge?

ErrolTheDragon · 28/06/2019 01:04

why the hell do Boots charge?

I'd guess to encourage you to bring your own bag. I think they're donating any profits to charity. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Baritriwsahys · 28/06/2019 01:08

@JaimeBronde

We have been charged for paper bags in Primark for years.

The bag charge is about single use bags, not what they are made of.

That's in Scotland mind you, England's rules may be different.

HappyNOTdriving · 28/06/2019 01:17

The newspaper said so many thousands (can't remember the exact) number of shops are changing to paper bags. They will charge 5p or 10p and the profits will go to charity.

Primark charge for paper bags here.

LikeDolphinsCanSwin · 28/06/2019 01:22

Paper bags can be recycled, but that’s an industrial process which has an environmental impact. Better to encourage people to use reusable bags, rather than single use ones.

And, yes, Morrison’s are donating the paper bag money in the same way they donate plastic bag money. I would imagine Boots do the same.

JaimeBronde · 28/06/2019 01:48

I do use my own bags but on occasions my bags are full & I need another bag I don't mind paying for plastic bags but paper bags not. They tear & get wet in the rain.
That reminds me we went to Ireland on holiday back in 2006 & bought some plastic bags from SuperValu (think that's what the supermarket was called) They got reused & reused when back home in England. The last one fell apart around 2013!
They lasted far longer than English, Scottish or Welsh carrier bags have.

MyOpinionIsValid · 28/06/2019 03:29

The downside of no plastic bags is I now have to specifically buy them to put my rubbish in, instead of recycling those which I'd get with my normal shop.

O/T I have more of an issue with discarded drinks bottles than I ever had with plastic bags; discarded drinks bottles seem to be breeding, that and coffee cups

RedHelenB · 28/06/2019 06:37

When I was a kid you paid for bags. We used to put shopping in the piles of cardboard boxes left at the end of the check outs.

Teachermaths · 28/06/2019 06:40

Myopinion you're still using a plastic bag either way! Is it for a kitchen bin? Try a washable liner or put "wet" waste straight outside. Non kitchen bins don't need bags.

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 28/06/2019 06:46

We use the green biodegradable bin liners and paper liners for our compost caddy. Plastic bags have been gone in Ireland for a long time so they are becoming a much rarer sight now. Agree though it’s coffee cups and water bottles that are a scourge. My work banned single use cups and bottles a few years ago and the difference is unbelievable.

megletthesecond · 28/06/2019 06:50

They didn't make it clear there was a charge?
To be fair even if I think it's a free paper bag (Primark UK) I still insist on using my own.

AJPTaylor · 28/06/2019 07:05

If shops are replacing plastic with paper whist still encouraging reuse through a nominal charge and donating to charity surely that's a step in the right direction?

user1480880826 · 28/06/2019 07:10

Paper bags also have an environmental impact. A big one. Of course it’s not unreasonable to charge for them. We shouldn’t be using them.

ZaraW · 28/06/2019 07:11

YABU you weren't prepared and had to purchase a bag. It's not a big deal.

Baritriwsahys · 28/06/2019 07:12

To be fair even if I think it's a free paper bag (Primark UK) I still insist on using my own.

Primark in Scotland charge for paper bags. Paper bags are included in our government bag charge.

MouseRatFan · 28/06/2019 07:13

Paper bags have a really high carbon footprint. I only found it out this month, I was really shocked.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 28/06/2019 07:17

Joules don’t charge for their beautiful paper bags. I reuse them as gift bags or store things in them they are so pretty.

Iggly · 28/06/2019 07:19

They are in it to make as much money as possible. “Saving” the environment is just an excuse to charge IMO.

rookiemere · 28/06/2019 07:36

Sorry but think YABU. Paper bags cost money to create and still cause more impact to the environment than bringing your own sustainable bags.

However all of this is a drop in the ocean compared to the ridiculous amount of packaging used for food stuff etc. I'm all for doing my bit, but feel it's unfair that it's always the end customers that have to make the changes, not the manufacturers or retailers.

Vulpine · 28/06/2019 07:38

Order online?

Baritriwsahys · 28/06/2019 07:40

They are in it to make as much money as possible. “Saving” the environment is just an excuse to charge IMO.

But the money has to be given to 'good causes' - the retailer doesn't keep it.