April 3, 2008 - IKEA has banned plastic shopping bags from its U.S. stores after an overwhelming 92% of customers indicated that the company should stop offering them at checkout. The ban will take effect October 1.

Last year, the furniture retailer began charging five cents per plastic bag with an eye toward reducing plastic bag use 50%. Proceeds went to the nonprofit conservation organization American Forests to help fund reforestation projects.

IKEA's large blue reusable bags continue to be sold in stores at $.59 a pop.

Other major retailers, including Wal-Mart, have also banned plastic shopping bags in recent months. U.K. department store chain Marks & Spencer began charging customers for plastic bags in February.