Four years after shops were banned from giving their clients free plastic bags, some 94% of shoppers consider it completely normal to take their own bags to the supermarket, according to a new report by I&O research.

In addition, 85% of shoppers say they do not consider it a problem to be asked to pay for a bag – although 9% are adamant that if they buy something, they should get a free bag as well, the research found.

The research was carried out on behalf of acting home affairs minister Stientje van Veldhoven.

Although the ban has lead to an 80% reduction in the number of plastic bags which are handed out, more still needs to be done to reduce their use in the takeaway food sector, the minister said.