Where it ends up starts with you.
Small choices while you shop can make a big difference. Skip the single-use plastic when you can, choose loose fruit and veg or bring a reusable bag instead.
Making a difference doesn’t have to be hard. It starts with one small choice.
Ready to make a small change?
It’s only one bag… right?
12 minutes of use. Up to 500 years to break apart.*
In 2018-2019 Australians used around 1.772 billion single-use plastic produce bags in a year.^
That’s an average of 70 per person in just one year.^
What happens after the bin?
The convenience might be short-lived, but the waste isn’t.
A single produce bag might only be used for the trip from the supermarket to home. But when that choice is repeated across thousands of shopping trips, those little bags add up.
See how long everyday items can take to break apart.
+ Source: NSW Government, How Long Rubbish Stays in the Environment.
On your next shop…
Fruit and veg often come with their own natural packaging. When you can, buy them loose or bring a reusable produce bag instead of reaching for single-use plastic.
Want to know more?
The facts and figures referenced throughout this page come from Australian and NSW Government sources. Explore the references below to learn more about plastic waste and its impact on our environment.
* What You Can Do To Prevent Litter, NSW Government
+ How Long Rubbish Stays In The Environment, NSW Government
^ 2018–19 Australian Plastics Recycling Survey, Australian Government
Further reading:
Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in a Circular Economy, Babaremu et al. (2022)
The next step in the war on plastic, University of Technology Sydney (2018)
