Last updated 11:35, Thursday, 01 May 2008

I’VE always maintained that old age is God’s last joke before you get the personal interview.

The older generation has a self-deprecating sense of humour when it comes to coping with the rigours of advancing infirmity. Well, if you didn’t laugh you would cry.

And that’s why I don’t think too many elderly ladies will be complaining about Sainsburys’ latest green promotional logo – “Take An Old Bag Shopping.”

Some 13 million plastic bags are given away to UK shoppers every year and you don’t have to be an eco-crusader to understand the waste problem that creates.

Age Concern says it has received a number of complaints of ageism regarding the Sainbury’s logo, but I think we need to lighten up a bit.

Any gimmick that can cut waste is worth a try. And witty persuasion is surely better than the petty bureaucracy that has local councils going round policing taxpayers’ bins.

The main problem for those of us qualified for a bus pass and winter heating allowance isn’t the social responsibility of cutting waste – it’s constantly forgetting where we’ve put our bag for life when we are planning that shopping trip.