Tesco offers green points for reusing carrier bags

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By: Wise Marketer Staff |

Posted on August 7, 2006

Tesco offers green points for reusing carrier bags

The UK supermarket chain Tesco is to offer members of its Clubcard loyalty programme special 'Green' loyalty points for not using carrier bags, and bringing their own with them to the store instead.

Consumers from the 13 million households that are Clubcard holders will earn points for each carrier bag they bring in and reuse at the checkout, whether they are Tesco bags or those of competing supermarkets.

Awarding points Checkout staff will ask customers how many bags they are reusing and agree the number of points to be awarded. Larger re-usable trolley bags may earn more than one point. Staff have received training but will use their discretion when awarding points.

Clubcard points will appear on quarterly statements mailed to Customers and in future will include a separate box for 'green' points.

Bag savings According to Tesco CEO, Sir Terry Leahy, "We have had a team looking at carrier bags, trialling different ideas in our stores and talking to customers about what we could do to encourage them to use fewer bags and to recycle the ones they do use."

The aim of the programme, according to Tesco, is to reward customers for using fewer new bags. The company aims to cut the number of new bags given out by 25% over the next two years - a potential saving on one billion bags per year.

Bags for life Tesco has also introduced bigger, thicker bags in many of its stores so that customers can fit their shopping into fewer bags. All Tesco carrier bags will be degradable by the end of September 2006.

Another smart move for Tesco Clubcard members is that the company will be issuing coupons entitling members to a free reusable Bag for Life, making it easier to reuse and reduce bag consumption. All of Tesco's staff will also receive a personal letter introducing them to the scheme, also providing them with coupons for these Bags for Life.

The scheme launches throughout the UK on 14th August 2006. Tesco is launching the programme through a prime-time television advert featuring a celebrities such as Martine McCutcheon, Paul Daniels, Ronnie Corbett, Alan Whicker, Alan Titchmarsh, and Frankie Dettori.

Clubcard update Clubcard was launched in 1995 and currently claims 13 million active accounts, to whom more than £250 million in reward vouchers was issued over the past year. Clubcard holders earn 1 point for every £1 they spend at Tesco.

Points are collected and sent back to customers four times each year, in the form of Clubcard Vouchers. Customers can then redeem these vouchers in-store for their face value, or they can exchange them for Clubcard Deals Tokens and benefit by up to four times the face value through special offers (for example days out or gym memberships).

More Info: 

http://www.tescocorporate.com