In a bid to cut down on the pollution and waste caused by the 15-20 billion shopping bags handed out every year by UK supermarkets, sector player Co-op has launched a new bag, which it says takes only three years to degrade to practically nothing.
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Unlike standard bags, which are likely to still be around in 100 years, the Co-op says its new green bags start to decompose after 18 months.
The bags, which are available free of charge, contain a special additive, which reduces them to small amounts of carbon dioxide, water, and minerals. They were developed by Hertfordshire-based Symphony Environmental.
