Primark shoppers fuming over new change that affects all stores from Monday (2025)

Primark has announced it is making a significant change to the shopping experience in all of it's UK stores on Monday (May 12) and it may add an expense at the checkout

Primark shoppers have taken to social media to express their dismay upon discovering that the high street giant is set to introduce a significant change in all it's stores from Monday (May 12).

Established in Dublin back in 1969, Primark is celebrated for its budget-friendly fashion offerings and boasts nearly 200 outlets across the UK. But come next week, customers may need to dig a little deeper into their pockets – as a staff member [and confirmed by the company] disclosed on social media. In a TikTok video, employee Beth Clare gave shoppers a heads-up: "Just a little heads up for everyone, from 12th May, we will be charging for our paper bags."

She pointed out a notice in her store, elaborating: "So if you need four, that will be four times 15p and so on and so forth."

Beth Clare also suggested opting for a reusable fabric bag from Primark as an alternative. "The big, massive ones are £1.20, we also have £1 ones that are still big, and little, tiny ones - they're 80p, but they fit quite a lot in," she advised.

Currently, Primark also offers various fabric reusable bags, including designs featuring Hello Kitty and Disney's Lilo and Stitch, along with other styles sporting leopard prints under the Primark brand.

One TikTok user, responding to the announcement, fuming: "15p for a bag that disintegrates as soon as you walk out the door? No thanks I'll pass." A second person noted: "Well we need better bags than papers bags then as in the rain they do not last."

A third customer pondered: "So does that mean that when we walk out of the shop and the handles break will Primark either swap the bag or refund the bag price?".

Whilst a fourth concurred: "They should be exchangeable if they break and have broken for new policy! When they are pushing twice the number of bags they will change their mind."

In defence of Primark's decision, however, one shopper argued: "Not sure why you're all chatting about this. People have been taking their own plastic bags to shops for more than a decade now."

Whilst another supporter expressed: "Too right. Everyone should have reusable bags, we all have them and they have been around for years so no excuse."

Primark issued a statement earlier this week confirming the upcoming change: "Across our business we use thousands of paper bags every day. While our paper bags are made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials, we're always looking for ways to cut down on single-use waste. That's why from May 12th 2025, we'll be introducing a 15p charge on all paper bags, whether small, medium, or large."

They went on to explain: "Why the change? Research shows that introducing bag charges reduces the number of new bags customers use. It's a simple step that encourages all of us to think twice about our use. We're committed to being part of the solution when it comes to clothing and non-clothing waste, and this change is just one of the small steps we're taking. We hope it inspires more customers to make the switch to reusable bags."

Primark has been invited to respond further, meanwhile.