Understanding the Challenges of Plastic Carrier Bag Control

Clive Lowther

Discussions with managers of small and medium-sized convenience stores reveal a significant operational issue concerning the management of reusable carrier bags at self-checkout points. Typically, such stores operate two or three self-checkouts with minimal staffing, as the available employees are also responsible for shelf replenishment, cleaning, and customer assistance. Because carrier bags are treated as stock items that must be charged for, shrinkage and unscanned bag losses are a recurring problem.

When reusable bags are left within easy reach of customers, many fail to scan them — whether through error or intent — resulting in unrecorded stock losses. Conversely, when managers restrict bag access to reduce theft, customers requiring a bag must queue at a staffed checkout, undermining the efficiency gains of self-service systems.

In trials conducted within a major supermarket, it was also observed that when a customer scans a bag at the beginning of a transaction and is later prompted again to declare the number of bags used at checkout completion, the system may apply duplicate charges. This inconsistency contributes to customer dissatisfaction and further discourages proper bag scanning behaviour.

Customers often experience confusion over when and how to scan reusable bags, particularly given inconsistent screen prompts between checkout systems. This leads to user frustration, repeated “unexpected item in bagging area” alerts, and the need for frequent staff intervention — slowing transaction throughout and increasing operational costs.

Many customers also arrive with one reusable bag but leave with two or more, creating inconsistencies in sales data, lost charitable contributions, and weakened accountability for bag usage.

A persistent behavioural challenge with reusable carrier bags is that consumers often forget to bring them when shopping, particularly during unplanned visits to supermarkets and convenience stores. As a result, shoppers frequently purchase additional Bags for Life at the checkout, even when they already possess a large number at home. Feedback from regular customers consistently reflects this frustration. Many report that their households contain “bags filled with bags,” with reusable bags accumulating faster than they can be used or recycled.

This situation illustrates a fundamental disconnect between the intended reuse model and actual consumer behaviour. Despite widespread awareness of the environmental importance of reuse, the practical inconvenience of carrying bulky bags discourages consistent use. Consequently, customers often find themselves purchasing yet another reusable bag simply because none were conveniently on hand. The result is unnecessary duplication, material waste, and diminished environmental benefit. There is therefore a clear need for a reusable bag system that encourages habitual reuse by being compact, portable, and readily available for spontaneous shopping.