Do it for the birds, the fish, the oceans and the Earth.

Plastic bags find their way into every corner of the Earth’s surface, from drains to forests and the ocean itself - the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean is a floating mass of plastic fragments thought to be twice the size of France. Plastic is made of oil, and, once created, it never truly biodegrades. Instead, it breaks down into tiny fragments that threaten sea birds and marine life.

Tasmania banned lightweight plastic bags in 2013. While this resulted in a decrease in the number of bags used, total plastic used may have increased because the new plastic bags are several times thicker!

Even compostable bags made from 'bio-plastic' are problematic. They only compost properly in commercial facilities. In home compost bins they just break into smaller pieces and pollute your compost. In landfill, they stick around for hundreds of years.

Re-useable shopping bags are the way to go. We recommend ones made from natural fibres (cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk, etc) as ones made from recycled plastics degrade over time, still leaving you with a plastic waste problem.

Finally, store your re-useable bags in handy places so you’re never caught without one. Pop a few in your bag, car, office desk drawer, gym locker, etc.