UK supermarket Tesco is to introduce degradable carrier bags in every store next year.

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The new carrier bags contain an additive, developed by EPI Environment Products, that will cause the bags to start to break down in as little as 60 days, leaving behind no harmful residues.


Tesco has been trialling the new bags in stores throughout the SouthEast of England. They will be rolled out to all Tesco stores in the New Year. 


The company said the new bags are as strong as regular bags and can be reused up until the degrading process begins, when the bag becomes brittle. One the bags have degraded, only biomass, carbon dioxide, water and a small amount of mineral matter is left.

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