Dundee City Council has joined forces with environmental business Get Serious World, the Overgate shopping centre, Borders Books and Hilton Dundee to hand out more than 2500 re-usable jute bags to shoppers, free of charge.

Amy Ridley, one of the driving forces behind Get Serious World, said today, “We have been thrilled that Dundee City Council and a number of the city's major retailers have embraced this effort so wholeheartedly.

“Saturday is going to be a great opportunity for customers and their favourite stores to take a stand against the ubiquitous use of plastic bags, and spread the idea that we can all do something to help our environment by not taking another plastic bag.”

It’s estimated that more than 17.5 billion carrier bags are given away in the UK every year, and the average shopper could be using as many as 300 a year.

Although consumers use a carrier bag on average for just 12 minutes before discarding it, the plastic can take between 100 and 300 years to degrade.

Convener of the city council's environment services committee George Regan said, “When we were first approached by Get Serious World to get involved it was an opportunity that we could not turn down.

“It is a frightening fact that a plastic bag is used for around only 12 minutes before it is thrown away and that happens a million times every minute.

“Knowing that the people of Dundee care about where we live, and that they can't resist something for nothing, it seemed like a perfect fit.”

The bags being given away were made in India using sustainable jute. They will be offered to shoppers to keep and re-use as an alternative to plastic bags at retailers across the city on Saturday. Karen Stewart, Overgate’s general manager, said, “It is our aim to be one of Scotland’s most environmentally friendly shopping centres and we are committed to supporting recycling and waste awareness initiatives that benefit the whole community.”

Robbie Glendinning, operations manager at Borders Books, said, “This is a great local campaign that Borders are delighted to support.

“It’s exactly the kind of initiative we feel our customers would expect us to get involved with and we hope they’ll get down to the store at the weekend to do some Christmas shopping and pick up their complimentary bags.”

Tom McDermott, general manager at the Hilton Dundee, added, “The Hilton Dundee is dedicated to protecting and conserving the environment and reducing waste, and I am confident that people will embrace the idea of a plastic bag free city over the coming weeks and months.

“We will also be backing the initiative by giving our guests jute bags.”