About Plastic Bag Reduction
Plastic bags affect our environment and society.
Plastic bag litter - and its effects on the environment, wildlife and human settlements - is the primary concern, however plastic bags are increasingly viewed by the community as a symbol of unnecessary consumption.
That's why Planet Ark led the National Plastic Bag Reduction Campaign in Australia from 2002 to 2005 and worked with Government, business and the public to reduce plastic check out bag usage across Australia. Retailers such as Coles, Woolworths and BiLo have sold over 10 million reusable green bags for our groceries; State Governments have funded communities to champion Plastic Bag Free Town initiatives in NSW and VIC and consumers around the country have embraced the use of reusable bags as part of their regular shopping habits.
Since the campaign was launched, use of plastic check out bags has dropped from around 6 billion to 4 billion per year. Reducing our use of plastic bags by almost one third is an impressive voluntary result, however Australians still use over 10 million plastic bags a day, and that's a bag habit we need to break.
It's easy to do your bit. Carry reusable bags when you go shopping and if you do accept plastic bags for some groceries, remember to reuse or recycle them.
Read our campaign press releases to learn about developments in
plastic bag reduction from 2002 - 2005.
Find
out how South Australia is going Plastic Bag Free
Planet Ark applauds the South Australian Government in leading the nation
with a ban on lightweight plastic shopping bags from May 4, 2009.
The Environmental Impacts of Plastic Bags in Australia
The Environmental Protection and Heritage Council maintains an archive of
formal documents on the environmental impacts of plastic bags in
Australia.
See the '60 Minutes' story 'Seas of Shame'
Each year, plastic pollution kills more that 100,000 marine creatures.
The 60 Minutes’ story ‘Seas of Shame’ explores how the vast oceans of the
world are literally choking with the rubbish we throw away, and the havoc
our waste causes wildlife.
See the effects of plastic bag litter on the turtles of Moreton Bay,
Queensland and discover the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – an island of
plastic rubbish twice the size of Britain that floats in the Pacific Ocean
between Hawaii and California. This plastic soup releases toxins that are
now entering the food chain.
Environmental Impacts
Plastic bags have long been a waste problem that harms the environment.
Effects on Wildlife
The real impact of plastic bag litter is felt on wildlife both in the marine environment and in rural areas.
