The usage of plastic bags has fallen sharply but there is more room for improvement to limit the harmful impact on the environment, said the Retail Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA)  on Tuesday.
In a bid to reduce problems related to usage of the plastic bags, IELKA launched last year a campaign called "We care today - We live better tomorrow" along with the support of ten of Greece's largest supermarkets.
According to data unveiled on Tuesday by IELKA general manager Lefteris Kioses, the usage of plastic bags in these ten supermarkets in the first quarter of the year fell by 76 percent, in comparison with the same period a year earlier. If this consumption rate continues for the rest of the year, then 1.5 billion fewer bags will be taken by shoppers at supermarkets.
Some 100 million bags were consumed in January to March, creating revenues of 3 million euros forr the government plus VAT of 1 million euros.