Sertronics is urging UK supermarkets to embrace the “bag for life” philosophy for handheld technology. The Tech for Life Challenge calls on retailers to repair and reuse handheld scanners, making sustainability a daily habit, just as shoppers now routinely bring reusable bags to the supermarket.
The impact of the bag for life campaign in the UK has been transformative. Since the introduction of the single-use plastic bag charge, usage across major supermarkets has dropped by 98%. In 2014, UK retailers handed out 7.6 billion single-use plastic bags, while by 2023 this figure fell to around 133 million annually among the largest chains. Billions of plastic bags have been kept out of landfill and the ocean, showing that a small, habitual change can drive large-scale environmental progress
Now, with over 16,000 supermarkets and tens of thousands of handheld scanners in circulation, and usage set to expand as more stores adopt scan-as-you-shop and self-service tech, the opportunity for similar change is clear. Repairing just one in 25 handheld devices each year could divert 4,000 units from landfill, and widespread adoption of repair-first policies would multiply environmental savings and support the sector’s net zero commitments
David Ince, Managing Director of Sertronics, said: “When supermarkets choose repair rather than replace every scanner in use, PDA, or handheld device, [it] represents real progress towards net zero and a genuine culture shift. Tech needs to follow the bag for life’s journey, from disposable to durable, from wasteful to sustainable. The evidence is clear: repeated small acts, from millions of customers and thousands of stores, can deliver massive impact. We challenge supermarkets to set repair targets, measure their environmental gains, and make changes that matter to customers, business, and the planet.”
With 43 years’ experience, Sertronics delivers fast, expert commercial repairs and transparent reporting to keep retail operations running smoothly. The Tech for Life Challenge asks supermarkets to repair the standard, aiming to fix at least 80% of handheld devices before replacing them, to establish a new benchmark for retail sustainability.
Dave Howles, Director, added: “We have seen how a simple switch, like choosing a bag for life, has created lasting change right across Britain, and repairing essential technology is the next step. Sertronics wants to empower every retailer to put sustainability at the heart of daily operations, not just policy. With the right approach, repair becomes a badge of honour for UK retail and a visible signal to every shopper that supermarkets are leading on climate action and resource efficiency.”
