The Victorian Government has launched a campaign to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags ahead of the state’s 2019 ban on lightweight, single-use plastic bags.
The Better Bag Habits campaign urges Victorians to remember their bag, wallet, keys and phone when leaving the house. The campaign will run on social media and radio.
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Some tips the campaign will encourage will be to store reusable bags in the car, at home, work to ensure customers are always ready to shop. It also encourages the use of foldable bags that can easily fit into a pocket, handbag or backpack.
Research commissioned by Sustainability Victoria found around three quarters of Victorians already carry reusable bags when food shopping.
Younger Victorians and those on higher incomes have been the slowest to say no to single-use bags, particularly when shopping for non-food items.
The ban on single-use plastic bags will come apply to shopping bags less than 35 microns tick after community consultation found a 96 per cent of the 8000 submissions were for the ban.
The state government is also working with other states and territories to phase out thick plastic bags to further reduce plastic pollution.
Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Victorians are already saying no to plastic bags, but this campaign will encourage it to become a habit.
“We’re stopping plastic pollution and ensuring Victorians are ready to live without single-use, lightweight plastic bags.”