Iceland is making a big change when it comes to carrying bags in stores. Shoppers are divided
ICELAND is making a major change to its stores, but shoppers have had mixed reactions.
The frozen food specialist is introducing brand new paper carrier bags to make them more sustainable for customers.
It comes as Iceland boss Richard Walker posted a photo of the new bag on X (formerly Twitter) and called it “sexy”.
However, one concerned customer said: “There’s no point if it rains.”
But Richard Walker responded that the new bags are waterproof.
He said: “This is a new technology, waterproof and performs very well in frozen food and rain!”
In response, another customer said: “Richard, you’re spoiling us.”
“Really useful in Great Britain weather when it rains,” said another customer.
But a third said: “I’ve had them before but they tear easily.”
A spokesperson for Iceland said: “At Iceland we have introduced a new and improved design on our existing paper bags.
“The new paper bags are designed with new technology.
“They are splash-proof, easier to carry and reuse, and perfect for transporting frozen food.”
In 2019, Iceland was the first supermarket to bring back old-fashioned paper carrier bags.
The supermarket also promised at the time to eliminate plastic packaging from its own brand products by the end of 2023.
The new bags are being rolled out in all 500 Icelandic supermarkets.
Paper bags cost 30 cents each, but shoppers can also purchase plastic-free bags for life and insulated freezer bags.
The supermarket became the first in the country to launch £1 plastic-free woven bags in June 2022.
Richard Walker said at the time: “We know that many customers still only use ‘bags for life’ once, so we’ve worked hard to create an alternative plastic-free reusable solution.
“Nearly 500 million lifetime plastic bags were sold in Britain last year – a sharp fall in recent years – but this figure is still far too high.
“These new paper cotton bags offer our customers a strong, reusable alternative to plastic bags.
“We look forward to seeing how customers respond to these new bags as part of our wider plans to reduce our plastic footprint.”
How can I save on my supermarket shopping?
There are plenty of ways to save money at your grocery store.
You can look for yellow or red stickers on products, which indicate when they are discounted.
If the food is fresh, eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money because you’ll be less likely to make hasty purchases when you go to the grocery store.
Choosing your own brand can be an easy way to save hundreds of dollars a year on your food bill, too.
This means ditching the ‘best’ or ‘luxury’ products and instead opting for ‘own’ or value-for-money lines.
Many supermarkets have shaky fruit and vegetable programs where you can get cheap prices if they are misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering 5kg boxes of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you could potentially get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers, which you can also use at the supermarket.
In addition, many municipalities offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
How can I save money when shopping at Iceland?
There are plenty of deals and loyalty offers that you shouldn’t miss in Iceland.
For example, there is the Bonus Card Loyalty Scheme: this gives access to exclusive offers and allows you to plan a budget by saving cash in your account.
It was launched in 2021 and you can sign up online for free. You just need to provide a few brief details.
This allows you to get the following special benefits:
- €1 bonus every time you add €20 to your savings balance
- Exclusive Bonus Card Prizes
- Free home delivery in stores and online
- Prices and offers
However, it’s good to always shop around regardless of the offers you see because you never know what you might miss elsewhere.
Use comparison tools such as Trolley.co.uk to check the price of an item from other supermarkets to ensure you get the best deal.