The Co-op’s initiative follows in the footsteps of grocer Morrisons, which earlier this month said it would become the first supermarket to stop providing bags for life.

The Co-op maintained that bags for life have ”become the new single-use carrier” and that the switch would allow customers to buy a ”low-cost, low-impact bag with a sustainable second use”.

The retailer is rolling out compostable bags for 10p and sells its lowest-cost reusable bag for 50p.