Zero Waste Scotland is set to unveil which Scottish businesses have made the Carrier Bag Commitment to charity

The number of businesses and organisations who have signed up to donate the proceeds of carrier bag sales to charity will be revealed in less than two weeks time.

Zero Waste Scotland plans to mark six months passing since the 5p charge was introduced by revealing all the founding signatories of Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment on 20 April.

Big companies such as Marks & Spencer, Argos, Waitrose, The Co-operative Food are all known to have signed up to the commitment to disclose carrier bag sales and donate money raised to good causes.

As well as benefiting from the sales, charities such as the Salvation Army and Scottish SPCA have also signed up.

Over the coming months Zero Waste Scotland will be collecting data on carrier bag use and funds raised for good causes; ahead of the first official figures being released later this year.

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Whether it’s a small independent shop or a multinational retailer with stores the length and breadth of the country, we want businesses big and small to make the Carrier Bag Commitment.

“There are less than two weeks to go before we announce the founding signatories and we want a clear picture of the impact the 5p charge is making in Scotland.

“This is something that effects everyone in our country – it’s time for retailers to step up, just like their shoppers have.”

Charities and other organisations or businesses yet to sign up to the commitment can do so at carrierbagcommitment.org.uk.

Those who sign up gain access to Zero Waste Scotland’s reporting portal which is an easy way of meeting the legal obligation to record data on the number of bags sold, amount raised and how the proceeds were used, which applies to retailers employing 10 or more full-time equivalent staff.