17 February 2023

Sixteen years ago, the ground-breaking 'I Am Not A Plastic Bag campaign* raised awareness of the global issue of single use plastic bags. Since then, the use of single use plastic bags has reduced dramatically, with sales falling 95% in the main supermarkets between 2015 - 2020, after the UK Government introduced legislation to address the issue. Whilst this is fantastic progress, nearly half a billion single use plastic bags were still sold in the UK between 2021 - 2022, according to recent Government data.

Anya Hindmarch, in collaboration with food retailers globally, has created a new campaign designed to inspire further change in consumer behaviour, creating a new shopping bag solution and encouraging a greater reuse mindset. This Spring sees the launch of the two latest versions together with two of the UK's biggest food retailers, Asda and Co-op.

The Universal Bag is the next generation of reusable bag; a desirable, durable, reusable, 100% recycled and recylable shopping bag designed for everyone to take everywhere, for everything.

The Asda version, available from the end of February in 300 stores nationwide, will be in its brand green, while the Co-op version, available from 315 stores nationwide from end March, will be in its brand blue. These partnerships follow hugely successful, ongoing editions with Sainburys', Waitrose and Selfridges Food Halls in the UK and City'SUPER in Hong Kong. More global partnerships will be announced later in the year.

Joining hands together with two of the UK's biggest food retailers marks a huge milestone in the rollout of the Universal Bag project with Asda and Co-op joining the collaborative campaign to create a new generation shopping bag.

Designed by Anya Hindmarch, and manufactured by the Solent Group, the Universal Bag, retails with all partners for £10 and comes with a 10 year guarantee. Should a customer wish to recycle the bag, it can simply be folded it into its free returns pocket for a replacement.

Anya Hindmarch proudly partners with both Asda and Co-op, each of whom are committed to bold sustainability strategies to lessen impact and protect and conserve the world around us. By working together with such powerful retailers, the hope is that the Universal Bag can play a valuable part in our shared mission to keep reducing single use plastic consumption.

THE UNIVERSAL BAG

• The Co-op Universal Bag will be available in its brand blue in 315 stores nationwide from end March.

• Both versions will retail for £10.

• The project, open to all food retailers globally, allows each partner to create their own exclusive version of the Universal Bag in keeping with their own brand.

• The Universal Bag is made from 100% recycled plastic and each step and material used in making the bag has been fully certified under the Global Recycling Scheme (GRS) making this a truly 100% recycled product.

• Each Universal Bag is guaranteed to last ten years having been extensively tested for durability.

• The Universal Bag features an innovative, convenient freepost returns pocket built into a pocket inside the bag. You simply turn the bag into its built-in pocket which acts as a pre addressed envelope, and then post it through a letter box. It is then 100% recycled locally.

• In addition to being practical and durable, the Universal Bag is also designed to be desirable. By creating a bag that customers feel excited to be seen with and are motivated to take care of, reuse is expected to increase, tackling one of the major issues still surrounding the shopping bag.

• In line with the collaborative philosophy of this project, Anya Hindmarch and its production partner Solent Group, have committed to share the learnings from this project with all global retailers on request, with the ambition to advance progress in the use, reuse and recycling of shopping bags around the world.

Anya Hindmarch, Founder and Creative Director, comments: "Since launching The Universal Bag, we have saved over 97 tonnes of virgin plastic from landfill, the equivalent weight of over 8 London double decker buses. The problem of single use plastic is far from solved. Working together with major global food retailers shows how the solution needs to be collaborative and that together we can make a big difference."

Kenyatte Nelson, Chief Membership & Customer Officer at Co-op comments: "Co-op champions a better way of doing business and sustainability is front and centre of the decisions we make. In 2021, we made the bold and right move to ban plastic 'bags for life' from sale in our convenience stores offering our shoppers compostable bags and durable, re-usable alternatives. Our collaboration with Anya Hindmarch and the Universal Bag project is another way in which we can engage and incentivise our members and customers to encourage them to shop more sustainably."

ENDS____text in bold

Notes to Editor

For more information, please contact:

Bryan Bell | [email protected]| PR Manager | 07714 061 961

www.coop.co.uk/theuniversalbag

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