Plans are in place to introduce a 5p charge for all single-use plastic bags in October 2015. The government hope that this will have a significant impact on the number of bags that we use and produce. According to the BBC figures from Wales and Northern Ireland show that their charges for plastic bags have had a dramatic and immediate effect, reducing bag use by 80% or more, since introducing the charge in 2011 and 2013 respectively. The Irish Republic introduced its 15 cent (13p) plastic bag tax back in 2002 - and estimates a 90% drop in single bag use. To read the

You may be wondering what this has to do with Martek Food Systems. Well, the beauty of our self-serve dispensers is that they significantly reduce the amount of packaging that is required to get products from the start to the end of the supply chain. What’s more, our dispensers will encourage customers to bring their own reusable paper bags or containers to take their products home in; this will trigger a reduction in the amount of plastic bags that are being used in supermarkets.

The eco-friendly attitude toward consumerism that has become more prevalent in recent years is set to get into full swing as studies continually reveal devastating statistics with regard to waste. For example, 177 million tonnes of waste is generated every year in England alone – Click here for more information. Our self-serve dispensing systems provide one of the solutions to this issue. To see more information about societies impacts on the environment please go to our WRAP facts and figures page, found under the ‘MERCHANDISING SOLUTIONS’ tab.