Bickerstaffe added: “The Government is keen to use an evidence-based approach to policy. We hope the Waste Review policy will reflect these findings and that other countries will re-think their policies on bags.”

She has also called on the Welsh Assembly Environment Minister Jane Davidson to stop the introduction of a single-use carrier bag charge, due to come into force this October. She also called on Italy to stop its plastic bag ban.

Bickerstaffe said that the “we should not wrongly demonise the bag that actually has the smallest environmental impact”.

She added: “The decision on the environment should be based on science and here we have good science and we hope that everyone will pay attention to it.”