The retailer aims to reduce its number of carriers by 20%, and will donate 0.25p to the Woodland Trust every time a customer declines a bag. It’s hoped the initiative will fund the planting of 10,000 trees by the end of 2008.

The scheme will operate in WHSmith’ s 543 High Street stores and in their 216 retail units in 142 airports, stations and motorway service areas.

Simon Marinker, WHSmith’s Stores Director said; “We are committed to managing the environmental impacts of our business and are aware that our customers also want to protect the environment. This is demonstrated by the excellent response to the Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme we already run in store.

“This carrier bag initiative provides an opportunity to work with our customers to reduce waste, with the added incentive of being able to support the Woodland Trust’s tree planting work. We will still offer carrier bags to all our customers, but hope this campaign will encourage them think whether they really need another bag when they shop with us.”

Read a press release about this promotion

WHSmith are also a partner for the Woodland Trust’s Christmas Card Recycling Scheme – find out more about the 2007 scheme

Visit WHSmith’s website

Find out more about how you can reduce, re-use and recycle to help the environment