Shops cautious over Brown bag pledge

Gordon Brown's ambition to "eradicate" the carrier bag has been given a lukewarm reception by small businesses.
In a speech on Monday, the prime minister said that he wanted to see an end to single-use carrier bags, echoing last week's decision by London Councils (LC) to ban their free distribution across the capital.
Mr Brown said: "In partnership with government, the supermarkets have already committed to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags by 25% over the next year."
"But I believe we can go further. Indeed, I am convinced that we can eliminate single-use disposable bags altogether in favour of long-lasting and more sustainable alternatives."
Responding to the LC proposal last week, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said that there were "unanswered questions" about the way in which a London-only ban would be implemented, and asked for more thought on the matter.
The association's chief executive James Lowman said that the previously agreed target to reduce plastic bag use by 25% across the UK by the end of 2008 would be a significant achievement. "Since this is a nationwide target, it will allow retailers to co-ordinate a consistent message for their customers."
Asked by More Th>n Business News whether the ACS welcomed Mr Brown's nationwide proposals, a spokesperson reiterated that the association supported the 25% reduction as agreed earlier this year.