Marks and Spencer’s plastic bag supplier on Thursday said there was “an awful lot of hype” around the issue after the company became the first large UK retailer to bring in nationwide charging for its carrier bags.

How nations bear the load

From charging fees to imposing eco-taxes, some countries have been doing their share to reduce consumption of plastic grocery bags

M&S scored a public relations coup by launching a 5p charge for its grocery bags, garnering the rapturous support of Middle England icons the Daily Mail and the Women’s Institute.