Asda has officially launched a two week 'bag for life' give away. This initiative will boost the supermarket chain's impressive carrier bag reduction figures, which now sits at 30 per cent across all Scottish Asda stores. Plastic bags will be replaced with re-usable bags at check-outs free of charge for two weeks. Asda is committed to meeting a 50 per cent reduction target in carrier bag use as agreed with the Scottish Government.

Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris was at the chain’s Summerston store in Glasgow to see the scheme in action. He said: "I am encouraged to see this prominent supermarket chain working together with the Scottish Government to achieve targets for carrier bag usage reduction. We have known for a long time that something has to be done, but it can difficult breaking bad habits. I am delighted to see Asda taking the initiative."

The store’s Customer Service Manager Anne Straiton explained that when the scheme was piloted at the Hamilton store 32,000 bags were given away during the first week, 48,000 in the second week, and when they reintroduced the 5 pence charge for each bag in the third week, amazingly some 70,000 were sold. In giving the bags away the scheme has created interest in reusable bags which otherwise would not be there.

David Paterson, Asda's Scottish Affairs Manager said: "When it comes to carrier bags we are trying to change the habit of a lifetime, but not at our customers' expense. Instead of penalising shoppers at a time when they are already feeling the pinch, we want to incentivise customers who choose a re-usable bag.

Asda are also working with the Scottish Government to achieve a range of environmental targets including reducing carbon emissions in existing stores by 2012 to 20% lower than 2005 levels and reducing waste to landfill to zero by the end of 2010."

Bob Doris MSP added: "These critical green targets will have to be achieved by furthering co-operation between government and private business. Constructive arrangements between the Scottish Government and the private sector are having a profound effect."