MARKS and Spencer have made a huge change at the checkouts across hundreds of stores – but shoppers will be divided.

The retailer revealed they are making the move of replacing their plastic bags for life with paper carrier bags.

In an effort to reduce single use plastic, M&S have introduced Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper bags at checkouts at every store across the UK.

According to the stores website, the new bags will be replacing their ecoloop plastic bags for life and will be sold alongside their range of durable tote bags.

M&S' paper bags are "super strong" and "capable of carrying over 15kg – equivalent to more than six four-pint bottles of M&S milk".

Thanks to a natural resin applied in the manufacturing process, the bags are waterproof and have allegedly been independently tested to withstand over 100 reuses.

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The paper bags can also be easily folded and stored in a backpack – perfect for shoppers on the go.

M&S said one of the most important factors of the carrier bag was that they can be immediately recycled once worn out – unlike the current plastic ones which generally need to be returned to specific soft plastic recycling units.

The store were the first retailer to introduce carrier bag charging back in 2008 and have since rolled out more sustainable options for customers.

The posh shop introduced new paper-based packaging on its rice, grains and pulses range in April which was estimated to remove a combined 5.5million units of plastic and contains 90% less plastic by weight.

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It comes after Superdrug started charging 15p for their paper bags across all stores in February and it left shoppers furious.

One shopper said on Twitter: "15p for a paper bag!!! Won't make that mistake again."

Another said: "Why are you charging your customers for a paper bag?"

Meanwhile, a third person added: "Why are you charging 15p for a paper bag that I can't reuse?"

Tesco also doubled the price of plastic bag usage in 2020 which left some shoppers fuming.

One customer said: “Well done Tesco, every little helps eh? All for a few pennies more in profit.”

Morrisons later followed in their footsteps after replacing all its plastic bags for life with reusable paper ones that cost 30p.

Despite being made from paper, the new carriers are reusable, recyclable, water-resistant and tear-resistant, Morrisons said.

And in February this year Sainsbury's revealed that it will be vacuum packing all of its beef mince products.

It replaced a sturdier plastic tray and film lid where the meat could move around inside.

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The change means the supermarket is using a minimum of 55% less plastic, making it more eco-friendly as a result.

But, shoppers weren't impressed and slammed the change complaining that now the meat sticks together in a lump.

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