Finnish grocery stores S and K have announced an increase in the price of plastic bags to 50 cents starting in February, aiming to further discourage their usage among consumers. Previously, plastic bags were priced at 0.35 euros at stores like K-Citymarket. This move comes amid a reported decline in the sales of plastic bags, with only about 20 percent of shoppers currently purchasing them after a significant drop in usage throughout the previous year.

The price increase follows an earlier hike in spring 2025, which also led to a notable decrease in plastic bag sales. According to the S Group, there was nearly a ten percent reduction in the use of plastic bags last year, indicating that their strategy is beginning to take effect. As a reflection of this shift, there was a substantial increase in demand for paper bags, with sales rising by almost 50 percent in S and K stores during the same period as compared to the previous year.

As part of broader efforts to reduce plastic waste, the European Union has set a target for Finnish consumers to limit their plastic bag purchases to no more than 40 bags per year. However, current statistics indicate that consumers are still buying approximately 60 plastic bags annually, highlighting the ongoing challenge in meeting this environmental goal and the need for continued action to change consumer behavior towards plastic products.