Bags More For Your Money From Ecotopia

Online ethical retailer Ecotopia.co.uk has designed its own alternative to plastic bags as British superstores begin their fight to reduce the overall environmental impact of carrier bags by as much as a quarter.

The distinctive green Ecotopia Eco Bag is a cool alternative to plastic bags and is 100% recyclable into high value material. A bag for life, the Ecotopia shopper is ethically produced and environmentally benign. Once recycled, the base materials can be re-used for a huge number of consumer products.

“The Eco Bag has been designed to make a statement but its fashionable appearance belies a serious message,” says Ecotopia.co.uk founder, Steven Jones. “Although most retailers have made tremendous leaps forward, the majority of carrier bags are still made of non-degradable polyethylene. As well as using non-renewable energy sources during the production process, they take hundreds of years to break down, posing a real threat to wildlife and damaging the appearance of parks and other green areas in the meantime.”

A Nationwide Challenge

At 24litres (34cm x 22.2cm x 32cm), the Eco Bag is large enough to carry the daily shop as well as books, school items and work necessities. It holds more than twice the weight of a traditional plastic bag and incorporates comfortable wide straps to prevent it digging into hands when fully loaded. A reinforced base also makes it a more reliable and practical alternative to weak plastic, ensuring it won’t split and tear when carrying heavy household items such as washing powder.

Ecotopia Eco bags are durable and washable, helping to prolong their working life. The ‘Bag For Life’ concept is one householders will become more familiar with in the coming months after UK retailers agreed a government proposal to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008.

The three stage action plan, signed by outlets such as Asda, Tesco and Debenhams will see retailers encouraging customers to reduce their use of plastic bags and reuse carriers where appropriate.

“If the cut back target is achieved, carbon monoxide emissions would fall by as much as 58,500 tonnes a year – the equivalent of taking 18,000 cars off the road for the same period of time,” said Steven Jones.

With around13 billion carrier bags used in Great Britain each year, some countries have gone even further in their attempts to reduce carrier bag usage. The Irish Republic has levied a 10p charge on plastic bags, drastically reducing carrier bag use, while the Scottish parliament is also debating similar measures.

The Ecotopia Eco Bag for Life costs just £1.49 and is now available online at www.ecotopia.co.uk

Nominated for ‘Ethical Retailer of the Year’ in The Observer Ethical Awards, Ecotopia.co.uk supplies a huge range of environmentally friendly products for the home and office.

Find out more at http://www.ecotopia.co.uk

About Ecotopia.co.uk


Established in 2003, Ecotopia is the UK’s leading ethical and environmental online store. It offers customers a diverse range of useful environmental products and a personalized and stimulating service.

Ecotopia aims to educate customers that caring about the environment need not cost the earth and inspires people to make a small and environmentally positive change in their daily lives. Ecotopia was a recipient of the Business Link ‘E-commerce Initiative of the Year’ award in 2005.

Please direct all press enquiries to Rebecca Appleton, Tel: 0208 123 5178 or email: Rebecca@topposition.co.uk