Irish retailer SuperValu is launching 100% compostable and reusable shopping bags.

The new bags, which will be available from September 9th, will remove 2.5 million plastic bags from circulation.

The company says this is a first for any Irish retailer - being the first bag in Irish supermarkets that is both reusable and compostable.

The shopping bag is priced at 89c.

When the bag has been used as many times as possible, it can be disposed of in the brown bin that is found in most homes and businesses.

It is then fully broken down once taken to industrial composting sites, turning into water and CO2 within 90 days.

File photo shows a SuperValu store in Finglas in Dublin | Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

This announcement follows the introduction of fully compostable fruit and vegetable bags for customers in 2018.

Supervalu says this has meant 2.7 million single-use plastic bags were removed from stores to date.

This has resulted in 113 tonnes of plastic being removed from fruit and veg packaging.

Martin Kelleher is managing director of SuperValu.

He said: "Our customers expect SuperValu to help them make more sustainable choices and we're committed to doing just that.

"Reducing our environmental impact on the planet is a core focus of our overall strategy to help build sustainable communities and we have already made significant steps forward in this area.

"We are delighted to be the first Irish supermarket to introduce 100% reusable compostable bags in-store and will continue to explore ways of reducing plastic in innovative ways"

The company has committed to make 100% of its own brand and fresh fruit and vegetable packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.