Bleep UK has announced the launch of Bleep eebag, an innovative plastic bag dispenser developed to integrate into retail checkouts and reduce retailers' plastic bag consumption by controlling and limiting the release of bags.
eebag is new to the UK, with over 6,000 points in operation across the globe, and designed with the plastic bag levy in mind, where a charge will be incurred for using plastic bags in every UK supermarket and large stores. It is a tried and tested tool for drastically reducing packaging costs and environmental impact, whilst improving customer experiences at the checkout.
The eebag unit consists of a robustly encased cartridge of plastic bags and built-in processor. eebag can analyse customer purchases to reduce bag over-consumption by adjusting feed-rate and volume according to the particular retailer's strategy. The eebag dispenser is conveniently located for the customer at the checkout.
Like a box of tissues, the next plastic bag bursts out when the customer takes the current bag, and each new bag partially opens, ready for use.
With eebag, bags can be dispensed in two primary ways; by free flow, which releases a bag and debits the customer bill automatically. Alternatively bags are dispensed by limited flow, which determines according to the purchase volume and weight the required number of bags and releases this number only.
An added eebag security feature prevents bags from being dispensed once a clerk logs off. Each unit can also operate as a bag vending machine at unmanned self-service points.
Benefits include effective cost savings derived from a 40% reduction in bag usage* and packaging logistics, time saved at the point of sale as bags are partially opened on release allowing for quick and efficient packaging and an enhanced customer experience.
John Wellman, Chairman of Bleep UK PLC said, "This is an exciting product, new to the UK and designed with the 2015 plastic bag levy in mind, to reduce retailer plastic bag consumption, reduce costs, and enhance their customer experience". After its launch at the Retail Business Technology Expo, Bleep eebag is now available through either rental or purchase options and can be integrated into any point of sale, whether new or existing. The eebag units can be fully customised to retailers' brand livery and the individual establishment or checkout fabrication and design.
