• In many European countries, plastic shopping bags were also free and common well into the 21st century, and as of 2010 still are common, but their use is becoming less and less widespread, partly due to environmental legislation, which has led retailers to charge for single use plastic shopping bags. The Republic of Ireland for example imposed a dedicated plastic bag tax, thus forcing retailers offering plastic bags to charge for them.[1]
• Reusable shopping bags are increasingly used, eg. in EU countries where use of single-use plastic shopping bags is in decline. Reusable bags are often made from jute cloth, also known as burlap in the US, but sometimes they are also made from plastic; however these reusable plastic bags are sturdier than single-use plastic shopping bags. In the USA, reusable bags are used as a fashion statement or for advertising.[2]
• In the United States and Canada, single-use plastic shopping bags are common and often free with a purchase. Some retailers, such as department stores, are more likely to provide paper bags to shoppers, whereas supermarkets and grocery stores tend to favour plastic shopping bags. People are encouraged to have reusable shopping bags, when possible. In an effort to reduce plastic bag use, the city of Toronto requires retailers to charge a minimum CAD 0.05 fee for each plastic bag; prompted by the plastic bag charge in Toronto, many grocery retailers have imposed similar fees on plastic bags in their outlets in other parts of Canada .