As reported by the LA Times and others, California voters recently approved the first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in the United States.
And the ban couldn’t have come soon enough.
As gyres of plastic debris (including plastic bags) grow ever larger in our oceans, toxins are being released into the water, which harm marine life. The plastic pieces also absorb these toxins as they break down into smaller pieces, which fish and other wildlife mistake for food and/or become choked on. On land, cattle, sheep and even camels can choke and die after ingesting plastic bags they mistake for food.
“[The ban on plastic bags is] a victory for all of California, from inland neighborhoods and communities to marine animals off our coast,” said Nick Colin, marketing and communications manager for Heal the Bay, which has been campaigning for local single-use plastic bag bans for more than eight years.
By choosing reusable bags for groceries and other items, we can all help prevent plastic bags from entering the environment. Each high-quality reusable bag you choose to use (and reuse) could potentially eliminate nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime.
How are you reducing the use of plastic in your world? We’d love to hear about it! Just leave us a comment below.Resources:
We even take a box with us to eliminate bags altogether.
Way to go California!! I use my Norwex reusable grocery and veggie bags all the time. I have people come up and ask me where I got them and it’s a great lead in to tell them about all our Norwex products for reducing chemicals and waste. They are awesome and sturdier than plastic or paper.
Hawaii has a ban on plastic bags as well.
I love this & I love using both my Norwex & 31 bags for grocery getting! Keeping them in my trunk makes it so easy to remember them!
That is fantastic – we need more Australian states to follow suit.
This is amazing! How do I get my state on the list?
I’ve been using my own bags when grocery shopping, for more than 20 years.
Rose, that is wonderful! What a great example you are setting, and who knows how much plastic you have saved from going into the landfill?! Kudos!!
I have been toting (no pun intended!) reusable bags around for over 20 years!!! They are sturdier and hold so much more! I also, just this summer came upon two brand new reusable insulated bags at my local thrift store. Plastic bags don’t keep food cold the way these do. Using reusable bags is a no brainer in my book!!!
I’m a very new consultant, but I plant to get some of the reusable grocery bags and start using them regularly. I love the slogan on them! Very catchy, so hoping it catches the eye of potential new Norwex customers! Loved the December spend & get promo, so my veggie bags should be here next week!
I would love to see all states ban plastic bags.
I have just started using reusable bags at the market! <3