Brown Thomas, a retail business, is backing its decision to implement a 60 penny fee for paper bags. The move is part of the company’s ecological initiatives and the revenue gained will fund tree planting across Ireland. Regardless of the bag’s size, shoppers at both Brown Thomas and Arnotts will have to bear this new fee, implemented in the latter part of the previous month.
Riding the wave of Irish retailers demanding bag charges, Brown Thomas is stepping up by asking for a considerable 60 pence, far beyond others like Zara, H&M, and Eason who settle for a mere 10 pence. Brown Thomas mentioned that this step is a part of a broader afforestation scheme and characterised the 60 pence as a rather “negligible” fee, hinting at the subsequent reusable nature of its paper bags.
The funds collected will be used to support tree planting initiatives in Ireland, as the company plans to diminish paper consumption in its brand packaging by more than half. They aim to achieve this sustainability while still providing customers with their well-appreciated branded bag experience.
This environmental endeavour is conducted in collaboration with Crann – a not-for-profit body committed to preserving and promoting trees, hedges, and forests. The joint venture aims to plant 100,000 trees in the coming ten years.
Donald McDonald, the Chief Executive of Brown Thomas-Arnotts, spoke about their new association with Crann. He articulated the pivotal need for afforestation efforts in Ireland, reiterating the company’s environmentally-geared ethos. McDonald revealed that not only were they the first Irish retailer to establish initiatives to reduce carbon emissions based on scientific measures, but they are now taking the lead in committing to afforestation efforts in Ireland.
Crann’s chairman, Peadar Collins, stressed Ireland’s current position of having one of the lowest tree cover percentages in Europe. He conveyed that this business-environmental organization collaboration is a significant step towards positively changing the country’s natural heritage.