These Scottish Boots stores are banning plastic bags and will charge customers for paper ones instead

Boots are the latest store to ban plastic bags from their stores with more than 50 shops across the United Kingdom going plastic-free from today.

Boots are banning plastic bags from 53 of their straws from today (Photo: Shutterstock)

The pharmacy giant has committed to ditching all of its plastic bags in all of its stores by next year, but five shops in Scotland are some of the first shops to see the changes implemented.

A small number of shops, 53 in total, will be offering paper bags from today (24 June), with Boots saying all its 2,485 sites will offer only paper bags from early next year.

Edinburgh's Princes Street, Aberdeen's Bon Accord Centre, and Glasgow's Braehead Centre, Buchanan Gallery, and Fort stores will all no longer provide plastic bags.

Boots are banning plastic bags from 53 of their straws from today (Photo: Shutterstock)

Paper bags not free

The company will however continue to charge customers for the new unbleached brown bags, despite them not falling under the plastic bag tax.

The recycled brown bags will cost 5p, 7p and 10p depending on the size, with all profits to be donated to BBC Children in Need.

900 tonnes of plastic

The move will see around 900 tonnes of plastic removed from stores as a result, according to Boots managing director, Seb James.

He said: “Plastic waste is undoubtedly one of the most important issues around the world today, with TV shows like Blue Planet highlighting the effects of plastic pollution.

“This year, we are transforming Boots as we celebrate 170 years, and the move to unbleached paper bags is another pivotal moment in that journey. There is no doubt that our customers expect us to act and this change signifies a huge step away from our reliance on plastic.”

A full list of the shops which will no longer provide plastic bags is as follows;

Nottingham Victoria CentreDerby Intu Shopping CentreSheffield Meadowhall Shopping CentreCambridge Petty Cury,Peterborough Queensgate CentreManchester Trafford CentreLondon Canary Wharf CanadaBristol BroadmeadMilton Keynes Crown Walk,Exeter High StreetCardiff Queen StreetOxford Cornmarket StreetPlymouth Drake CircusLeeds TrinityBelfast Donegal PlaceEdinburgh 101 Princes StreetAberdeen Bon Accord CentreNewcastle Eldon SquareLondon Sedley PlaceLondon Brent Cross Shopping CentreLondon Liverpool St StationWatford The HarlequinBromley The Glades Shopping CentreKingston Upon Thames Union StreetLondon KensingtonSouthampton Above Bar StreetWest Thurrock Lakeside Shopping CentreBrighton North StreetJersey St Helier Queen StreetLondon Piccadilly CircusDartford Bluewater ParkLondon 193 Oxford StreetLiverpool Clayton Square Shopping CentreManchester Market StreetBirmingham High StreetCanterbury Whitefriars Shopping CentreChelmsford High ChelmerLondon White City Shopping CentreYork 43 Coney StreetBath Southgate CentreLondon Stratford CityDudley Merry Hill CentreBristol Cribbs CausewayReading Oracle CentreLincoln High StreetGateshead Metro CentreSalcombe Fore StreetGlasgow Braehead CentreGlasgow Buchanan GalleryLiverpool New Mersey Retail ParkLeicester Fosse ParkGlasgow FortCovent Garden