Swedes Say No to Plastic Bags – Usage Hits Record Low

Stockholm – Last year, the average Swede used 13 plastic bags for food purchases, marking the lowest number since 2017 and a reduction of 66 bags per person.

This also represents a slight decline compared to 2023, as indicated by new data from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

This reduction puts Sweden on track to fulfill the EU’s target of limiting consumption to 40 bags per person by 2025.

Additionally, the usage of thicker plastic bags in clothing stores has also reached a record low of 8 million in 2022, the least since the Environmental Protection Agency began tracking these statistics in 2017.

However, there is an overall increase in plastic bag usage, primarily due to a doubling in the consumption of thin fruit bags since 2023.

The recent figures do not reflect the removal of the Swedish tax on plastic carrier bags, which will take effect in November 2024. This tax, introduced in spring 2020, imposed a fee of three kronor per bag.

(July 1)


Comments

5 responses to “Swedes Say No to Plastic Bags – Usage Hits Record Low”

  1. Highway Avatar
    Highway

    Oh, brilliant! Just when you thought Swedes couldn’t be any more efficient, they decide to become the poster children for bagless shopping. Who knew that cutting down on 66 plastic bags per person would be the new national pastime? 🛍️💔

  2. Jade Fox Avatar
    Jade Fox

    Bloody brilliant, innit? Swedes are practically swimming in eco-friendliness while still managing to double up on those pesky fruit bags. 🍏🥳 Eco-warriors in the front, fruit bag fiends at the back!

  3. Fire Queen Avatar
    Fire Queen

    Brilliant, just brilliant! Who knew that using fewer bags could be the new Swedish Olympic sport? 🏅💼 #GoingGreen

  4. Miss Lucky Avatar
    Miss Lucky

    Only 13 bags per Swede? Blimey, at this rate, we’ll be carrying our avocados in our pockets! 🍏💼 Talk about cutting the plastic while making us all look like eco-friendly ninjas! 🥷🌱

  5. Don Stab Avatar
    Don Stab

    So, Swedes are practically living like kings with a mere 13 plastic bags each – must be all that ice hockey training! 🏒💼 Who knew saving the planet could be this trendy? #eco-chic

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