It's city centre stores that are the problem. So many of them will hand you a bag - no choice - no matter how small your purchase. Boots: buy a lipstick, and they shove it in a carrier bag for you. It would fit in your pocket! So you end up with more bags than you really need.

In Bristol, they're increasingly asking if you need/want a carrier bag in a lot of places, including Wilkinson and Virgin. And Virgin have swapped to paper bags, instead of plastic. I've started carrying a couple of bags in my handbag, one small and one carrier sized, so I can say that I don't need one, I've got my own.