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Leading supermarkets and their Scottish customers have virtually met a challenging target to halve the number of single-use carrier bags handed out.

New figures, announced by the British Retail Consortium and the Scottish Government, show a 49 per cent reduction (rounded down from 49.4 per cent) in the number of bags handed out by Asda, the Co-operative Group (including ScotMid), Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose. This is the equivalent of nearly 39 million bags less in May 2009, compared to May 2006: comparable to the weight of 45 African elephants (as used in the Scottish Government's marketing campaign).

The Scottish Government agreed with the supermarkets the voluntary target of a 50 per cent reduction by May 2009. The target was subsequently adopted across the rest of the UK.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"This is fantastic news and another major step towards a zero waste Scotland. I'd like to thank every member of the public and all the retailers and their staff who helped us achieve this remarkable cut in carrier bag use.

"Scotland led the way by working with retailers to reduce the number of bags and was the first country in the UK to introduce the 50 per cent target.

"The fact that Scotland has achieved the largest reduction in the UK is testament to the partnership forged between the Scottish Government and the retailers and also shows how successful our recent bags campaign was. I hope that we can now push on and, as well as cutting bag numbers further, work together to tackle other important environmental issues such as food waste and packaging."

The reduction has been achieved by retailers using specific schemes they feel work best for their customers - backed by a consumer campaign funded by the Scottish Government, which research shows achieved an 85 per cent recall with audiences. While it has been a challenging exercise, involving staff training and customer communication, retailers and the Government have helped change consumer behaviour by taking customers with them.

British Retail Consortium Director General, Stephen Robertson, said:

"This is a spectacular achievement.

"Changing customer habits on this scale, this quickly, isn't easy. But it's a huge testament to customers, who've switched to bags for life and cut bag usage. Hard working retail staff also deserve credit, as do our supermarket members - who've spent the money during these tough times to help this happen.

"These figures send a clear message: the voluntary approach is very successful and can lead to better informed customers and lasting change.

"Reducing the number of carrier bags handed out is only one of retailers' many green commitments. For example, supermarkets are working hard to reduce food waste - a bigger polluter than carrier bags. They've also been promoting recycling, discounting energy efficient products and cutting their own energy use."

The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) supports the drive to reduce the number of carrier bags handed out to customers and participated in the Scottish Government's bags campaign.

John Drummond, Chief Executive of SGF, said:

"It is often very difficult for convenience stores because there is a difference in bag use between weekly planned shops and more spontaneous visits to shops where customers are less likely to take their own bags. However, retailers are making determined efforts to encourage customers to change their habits and to use durable bags for sustained use on an on-going basis."

Iain Gulland, the Scottish Director of Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), said:

"This is an excellent example of retailers and the Scottish Government working together to achieve a beneficial environmental outcome. WRAP is pleased to have worked with retailers and Government to help facilitate the agreement and to monitor the results."

Dr Nicki Souter, Waste Aware Scotland Campaign Manager, said:

"Waste Aware Scotland was proud to support the campaign and help consumers make positive choices to reduce reuse and recycle bags by providing practical hints and tips on the Waste Aware Scotland website."

Retailers agreed a voluntary target of cutting bag use by 50 per cent by the end of May 2009 (compared to May 2006 figures). Figures from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in the table below show the bag reduction figures for Scotland, the other countries in the UK and for the UK as a whole:

* Rounding errors may cause total not to add up and apparent discrepancies in the per cent reduction figures.

The cut has been achieved against a backdrop of a growing volume in sales for all retailers involved (up five per cent between 2006 and 2008). These companies account for more than three- quarters of the UK grocery market and therefore the majority of the UK's carrier bag usage.

The 50 per cent target was first launched by the Scottish Government at the Supermarket Summit in 2008 and later adopted by the UK Government and the other devolved administrations.

The Scottish Government also launched a campaign to help customers remember to reuse their bags in March this year.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Bill, as passed by Parliament, has a provision enabling Ministers to make regulations requiring retailers to charge for bags. Ministers have made it clear that they will not make regulations so long as voluntary work to reduce unnecessary bag use is successful.

Comparing May 2006 with May 2009, the overall weight of single use carrier bags handed out across the UK reduced by 56 per cent. Due in part to average bag weight declining from 8.3 grammes to 7.0 grammes.

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