Plastic Bag Ban: New Zealand Takes a Stand

New Zealand has taken several steps to reduce plastic waste, including banning single-use plastic shopping bags in 2019. Recently, the country has gone a step further by banning single-use plastic produce bags at grocery stores, becoming the first country in the world to do so. The new ban also extends to plastic straws and silverware. Instead of using these single-use plastic items, customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags made of mesh, paper, or canvas to hold their produce. The ban on single-use plastic shopping bags in 2019 has already prevented more than 1 billion plastic bags from being used in New Zealand. The new ban on single-use plastic produce bags is expected to further reduce plastic waste in the country.