Supermarket chain in Spain bins the plastic bag

SPAIN’S Mercadona supermarket chain has announced plans to scrap their existing plastic bags and replace them with alternatives made from paper and other recycled materials.

The supermarket giant has already trialled the scheme in 66 stores and will now roll out the initiative to more than 1,600 by the middle of April this year.

Customers will be able to choose between a paper bag, a bag containing 50-70 per cent of recycled plastic from Mercadona stores or a raffia ‘basket’.

The paper bags and recycled plastic bags will cost 10 centimos each and the raffia basket 50 centimos.

Mercadona said it is committed to encouraging its customers to reuse bags and baskets within their green recycling initiative that involves its customers, employees and suppliers.

Working towards that the store chain said that it is expected that the plastic bags used in the fresh produce sections of their stores will be replaced by others made of compostable material before 2021.