Boost for bags campaign
A CAMPAIGN to turn Rutland green will take a leap forward this month with the launch of two specially designed reusable bags.
People are being urged to back the Carry-a-Bag campaign to ditch single-use bags.
Rutland will become the first county with its own reusable bags when they arrive in the county before Christmas.
The campaign was launched at a meeting in April by clothing firm Lands' End and Rutland County Council, supported by the Mercury.
Since then talks have taken place with traders across the county and a three-step plan has been adopted to phase out single-use bags.
The first stage is to urge traders not offer a bag unless requested, stage two is to have a durable alternative bag for sale and the final aim is for retailers to stock only reusable bags.
Lands' End's environmental, social and employee services director, Mark Harris, said: "Virtually all the big retailers and supermarkets in Rutland are on stage two and we are surveying all the 350 retailers in the county to see where they are in the campaign."
It is hoped the reusable bags will encourage shoppers to play their part.
Mr Harris said: "This bag will be a great way to promote Rutland as an environmentally friendly county."
The bags have been developed by Lands' End and Inspiro Bags of Owston. There will be two types available, which will be colour co-ordinated and display an attractive 'love Rutland' logo.
The large shopper bag is 100 per cent natural, made of unbleached cotton canvas using vegetable dies, while the smaller bag is fold-away with its own built-in carrying pouch.
The bags will cost 3 and 2 respectively with the profit from the sales split evenly between Oakham in Bloom and Uppingham in Bloom.
The bags are due to arrive in Rutland before Christmas and possibly by mid-December. They will be available from the Lands' End store in Lands' End Way and retailers have been sent flyers inviting them to sell the bags. Everyone participating will be given a window sticker.
Retailers can get more details by e-mailing james.greenberry
@landsend.co.uk or calling 01572 578088. Companies can also order bags for their staff by contacting Lands' End.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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