Currently, Australia is in the middle of banning lightweight plastic bags from it’s states. Perhaps it’s time to rethink your packaging strategy. Lightweight plastic bags have been banned in most Australian states. Since 1977, singlet plastic bags with handles, 35 microns or less in thickness, made of high density or low density plastic, were offered by supermarkets, the type that sometimes breaks halfway to your car! Businesses are prohibited from providing them directly to customers as carry packaging for bought goods. In 2011, the Australian Capital Territory was the first state to ban this kind of bag. Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania came next and recently Western Australia and Queensland banned them also. Victoria has announced its intention to ban and NSW will likely follow suit. That’s a list of every state in the country! We should be aware of the harmful effects of single-use plastic bags. Many thin filmy bags massively contribute to landfills, float in oceans and drift around urban and rural areas. Apart from the way they’re produced and the time they take to break down, their fine and filmy nature causes more problems. Because of their buoyancy, transparency and size, marine life often ingest and entangle themselves easily in the lightweight material. Often disposed of irresponsibly, they’re easily picked up by the winds. You’ve seen them scud along the gutters with the traffic or even hang around fences and paddocks. They are not a good choice of plastic bag to use. From a business perspective, the ban is going to change the way our customers shop. So what bags can you use? Depending on your products and your perceived store image, there are a host to choose from. Woven green bags and heavyweight plastic bags are the most popular plastic bag alternatives. Surprisingly, reusable heavyweight plastic bags and woven polypropylene ‘green’ bags are not so deadly as you may think. Sure, they’re still made of plastic but they’re a step in the right direction. Their reusability cancels out the environmental cost of production and because of them, less bags are used in general. A thicker, stronger build means that people will keep them for longer and end up passing them on. They are harder to throw away and they look good! Die cut or loop handles and a neat design look great in any colour that can slip in with your store image easily. Economic, simple and stylish, a glossy or crisp bag will impress your customers. On the other hand, a tough, sturdy non-woven polypropylene bag is a great option for really heavy items and large boxes. Find the bag that will do the job well, for you, for your customers and for the environment. Always ready to help with your bag planning, The Bag Mart Team