Another one in the bag

Yet another store has joined the green profit wheeze by charging for carrier bags - T K Maxx will be donating profits to the Woodland Trust.

Now before the accountants who now run the world in the name of profit had their conversion on the road to the bank, shops and stores bought billions of carrier bags every year so customers could carry away their purchases. The bags, from the way they fell apart with more than half a dozen items to carry, must cost fractions of a penny but multiply that by 80 billion or so and we are talking quite a few bob sitting uncomfortably in the column in the balance sheet stained by the tears of the suits clutching their business studies diplomas.

But, after slipping into the nearest phonebox and emerging with their underpants over the trousers as Ecoman, they announce that charging for carrier bags will save the planet and to show this is an altruistic gesture for the good of mankind, all profits will go to charity.

Profits mind, not all the 5ps or 10ps handed over for bags. Thus retailers are in a win win situation. If significant numbers of customers take their own bags then retailers will save money by not having to buy as many and instead of having to stand the cost of those they do have to buy they will be selling them at a huge profit.

Take out the cost of bags and the inevitable handling and admin charges, plus the interest on money sitting in the bank until it is handed over the charity and it becomes a useful little cost saver.

It was always on the cards when the likes of Aldi arrived charging for bags. They were honest about it. It was to help keep costs down. More upmarket retailers were wary of following suit and antagonising customers but paint it green and we swallow it.

I am sure charities will benefit and any reduction in plastic bags can only be a good thing but I just wish just for once that the population were treated as adults and did not have to put up with smoke, mirrors and spin.