S A Leads Way With Plastic Bag Ban Success

Australian Food News reports that S A shoppers have been quick to remember to bring their own shopping bags to ‘help the environment’.

Six months into a total ban on plastic bags the government estimates 200 million checkout bags have been stopped from entering landfill.

Results of research released recently shows:

“Remembering to bring your own shopping bags is now a normal part of South Australians’ daily lives – the change has generally gone without a hitch..
Research shows more than nine in 10 shoppers take reusable bags to do their shopping, compared to about six in ten before the ban took effect..

Importantly, the vast majority of them believe the bag ban shows that SA is a leader on environmental issues..”

A task force, headed by Zero Waste SA with representatives from unions, retailers, local government and the community – which has worked with retailers since 2006, has ensured a successful introduction of the ban says Jay Weatherill, Environment Minister and training for shop workers was also important in the smooth transition.

The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science at UniSA spoke to shoppers before and after the ban taking effect and found that since the ban:

• more than nine in 10 shoppers are taking reusable bags to the supermarket
• 82 per cent believe the ban is having an impact, especially on landfill and litter
• more than half give the ban a 10 out of 10, with the average support level 8.4 out of 10
• more than three quarters of shoppers believe the ban shows SA is a leader on environmental issues

Will the rest of Australia follow?