New Zealand bans plastic bags for fresh produce in supermarkets

New Zealand has go the world's archetypal state to grow its prohibition connected integrative bags successful supermarkets to bladed bags, which are typically utilized to clasp fruits oregon vegetables.

The move, which took effect connected Saturday, is portion of a wider authorities run against single-use plastics.

Most shoppers already bring their ain bags to stores aft take-home integrative bags were banned successful 2019.

In caller years, galore countries person imposed a interest oregon prohibition connected integrative bags.

"New Zealand produces excessively overmuch waste, excessively overmuch integrative waste," Associate Environment Minister Rachel Brooking said.

She added much than 1 cardinal integrative bags had been saved since the prohibition connected thicker bags took effect successful 2019.

The caller determination is expected to forestall the usage of 150 cardinal integrative bags per year.

Critics person raised concerns that shoppers whitethorn conscionable spot groceries successful disposable insubstantial bags, which are inactive disposable successful supermarkets.

"It's inactive worthy doing this, but we truly privation to trim single-use thing packaging," Ms Brooking said.

"So we privation radical to beryllium bringing their ain bags, and supermarkets are selling reusable nutrient bags," she added.

Supermarket concatenation Countdown, which operates much than 185 stores crossed the country, has started selling reusable polyester mesh bags.

The institution hopes this volition promote shoppers to usage reusable bags for fruits and vegetables.

"We cognize alteration is hard and (it) volition instrumentality them a small while," said Catherine Langabeer, the caput of sustainability astatine Countdown. "We get immoderate grumpy customers."

The New Zealand authorities has made advancement connected different initiatives to tackle clime change.

The world's archetypal strategy volition spot farmers paying for cultivation emissions successful immoderate signifier by 2025.

The country's farming manufacture accounts for astir fractional of its emissions.