Anya Hindmarch, the British luxury accessories designer, announces the arrival of The Universal Bag in the Philippines, a practical, durable and desirable everyday shopping bag made from 100 percent recycled plastic designed to encourage long-term reuse. 

Developed by Hindmarch and manufactured by the Solent Group, The Universal Bag continues the brand’s ongoing work with major food retailers worldwide to help reduce reliance on single-use plastics through thoughtful, design-led solutions.

Since its launch in 2021, the project has saved over 330 tons of virgin plastic from landfill — the equivalent weight of more than 27 London double-decker buses.

The Universal Bag reflects the brand’s “Eco not Ego” approach — recognizing the intentional step toward reducing single-use plastic through better everyday habits. By creating a bag that customers are excited to use and motivated to take care of, reuse is expected to increase, addressing one of the key challenges surrounding shopping bags.

Hindmarch, founder and creative director, says in a statement: “The Universal Bag project has saved over 330 tons of virgin plastic from landfill to date, the equivalent weight of over 27 London double decker buses. Plastic pollution remains a pressing environmental issue but working together with major global food retailers shows how the solution needs to be collaborative.”

In the Philippines, waste assessments by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) note that the average Filipino uses 174 shopping bags per year — that amounts to national estimates of around 57 million shopping bags a day or around 20.6 billion used annually.

The Universal Bag provides a durable option as a step towards the right direction for reducing plastic waste. It is designed for repeated use, an everyday essential created to be taken anywhere and used for everything.

The Marketplace, the premium grocery banner of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., is proud to be the exclusive Philippine partner for Hindmarch’s The Universal Bag launch. Known for its carefully curated selection of high-quality groceries, The Marketplace shares Hindmarch’s vision of combining style, practicality and sustainability in everyday life. As the first retailer globally to offer both sizes of The Universal Bag at launch, The Marketplace reinforces its commitment to promoting reusable habits among customers nationwide.

Christine Tueres, managing director of Food Segment (Big Formats), Robinsons Retail Holdings, says in the same statement: “Partnering with Hindmarch on The Universal Bag allows us to champion a more sustainable way of grocery shopping through a practical, long-lasting bag designed for everyday use. By offering both sizes — the regular and mini bags — nationwide, we hope to make it easier for customers to incorporate thoughtful, reusable choices into their daily routines.”

The Solent Group has collaborated closely with Hindmarch to bring The Universal Bag to life. Each bag is made from 100 percent recycled plastic, with all materials and processes certified under the Global Recycling Standard (GRS). 

As Tracey Dobkins, chief executive officer of Solent Group, explains in the statement: “Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand, and our partnership with Anya is a perfect example of that. The Universal Bag is more than just a reusable bag — it’s a thoughtfully designed solution that redefines style, convenience, and sustainability. With exceptional durability, it truly is a bag for life. This collaboration isn’t just about a product; it’s about reshaping behaviours and encouraging better choices. Having worked with some fantastic global grocers on this project so far, we’re delighted to lead in design innovation and look forward to seeing the Universal Bag make a lasting impact.”

The Marketplace Universal Bag will be available in 38 stores nationwide, starting this December. The small bag retails for P699, while the regular size is priced at P899. This Philippine edition comes in The Marketplace’s core brand colors of brown, with yellow handles — elegantly tailored yet strong for repeated use. 

This Philippine edition joins the growing global lineup following partnerships with Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges Food Hall, Tesco and Waitrose in the UK; City’SUPER and Taste in Hong Kong; National Azabu, Seijo Ishi and Meidi-Ya in Japan; and Woolworths in Australia. More partners are set to join in 2026.