Whole Foods gives out free green bags ahead of its plastic ban

The Kensington store - part of an American-owned chain - is the biggest yet to ban plastic carrier bags, which it will cease handing out by 22 April - known in America as Earth Day.

Instead it was today offering reusable bags to shoppers in a bid to wean them off plastic bags.

The chain said it expected customers to bring their own reusable bags when they did their shopping but added that it would supply paper carriers made from recycled material. The store already offers customers who bring their own bags a 5p discount at the tills.

The ban is being replicated at its 270 outlets across the US and Canada and comes amid growing concern over the environmental impact of plastic bags.

Chief operating officer ACGallo said: "More and more cities and countries are beginning to place serious restrictions on single use shopping bags since they don't break down in landfills, can harm nature by clogging waterways and endangering wildlife, and litter our roadsides.

"Together with our shoppers, our gift to the planet this Earth Day will be reducing our environmental impact as we estimate we will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of our environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone."

London councils are backing a plan to ban the bags from London, forcing shoppers to switch to reusable carriers.

Other plans being considered include a tax on disposable plastic bags which would drastically cut consumption.

In Ireland a five cent tax on bags almost eliminated their use, and was said to have cut the amount of rubbish going to landfills.

Supermarkets are also moving to cut consumption and increase the use of recycled materials.

Sainsbury's has unveiled bags made from partially recycled materials, while Tesco offers Clubcard points to people reusing bags.