Pharmacy chain Boots has announced it will ditch plastic bags in all its stores by next year - and three branches in Devon will scrap them from today.
The health and wellness giant said 53 stores will lose plastic bags at checkouts from Monday, with all 2,485 sites only offering customers paper bags from early next year.
It is estimated the move will remove more than 900 tonnes of plastic from store operations per year.
No plastic bags will be available in Exeter High Street, Salcombe Fore Street or Plymouth Drake Circus branches from today.
Instead, paper bags will be used, but will continue to charge customers for the new unbleached brown bags, despite them not falling under the plastic bag tax.
The recycled brown bags cost 5p, 7p and 10p, depending on size, and the company said all profits will be donated to BBC Children in Need.
Seb James, senior vice president and managing director of Boots 海角视频, 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.
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"There is no doubt that our customers expect us to act and this change signifies a huge step away from our reliance on plastic."
Hundreds of companies have already made pledges to cut back the amount of plastic and packaging they use.
Earlier this month, Waitrose unveiled a new "plastic-free" store, McDonald's is replacing plastic straws with paper ones, and supermarket Iceland has promised to end plastic packaging from own-label products by 2023.