Deli Launches Charity Scheme With Natwest

Home & Colonial has been charging customers 10p for each plastic bag used since last year – making hundreds of pounds for charity in the process. And when co-owner Abbe Vaughan mentioned the scheme to her local Natwest branch, the bank offered to match the amount raised.

“When the deli launched in 2009 we gave away free biodegradable plastic bags. But after a while we realised we were handing out about 4000 a month, which is ridiculous, so we decided to charge for them and give the proceeds to charity,” explains Mrs Vaughan. Indeed, the Welsh Assembly Government recently announced plans to ban free plastic carrier bags in all Welsh stores – due to take effect this October.

However, some consumers were initially hostile to the initiative. “Although lots of people totally understood our reasoning, others were outraged. Some abandoned their shopping at the till and left when we told them there was a charge, even though all the proceeds go to charity!” she says. Nevertheless, the scheme has been a rousing success, with bag usage in the shop having decreased significantly. “We now go through around 4000 a year, which is very encouraging. Hopefully we’ve gone some way to changing how people shop in the long term.”

The store is currently debating which local charity to donate the money to. “It’s a toss up between the YMCA and the Porthcawl Lifeguard Club. Both organisations do so much for the community, we’re just in the process of deciding where the money would be of most use,” continues Mrs Vaughan.

The scheme is set to carry on for the next year, and Natwest has expressed an interest in continuing its support. “The bank has been so supportive and didn’t need any convincing to get involved whatsoever! Obviously our overall intention is to get people to stop buying plastic bags, but if we can raise money for a good cause along the way, then it’s definitely something we’ll continue doing,” adds Mrs Vaughan.