28 March 2007
Press release
For immediate use

Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Bunnings Warehouse in partnership to eliminate plastic bags

Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Bunnings Warehouse have formed a partnership to eliminate the use of plastic bags from all of the hardware chain's stores by the end of December this year.

Bunnings provided more than 3 and a half million plastic shopping bags across its nearly 40 New Zealand stores last year. This commitment to be totally plastic bag-free in all Bunnings Warehouse stores is to be completed by 31 December 2007.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful chairman, Hon Roger McClay, says, "The exciting point to this partnership is that we're using the word 'eliminate', not reduce. This plan we have with Bunnings will eliminate the use of plastic bags at all their stores."

Mr McClay says this will be a spectacular success for the environment and for both Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Bunnings Warehouse.

"It's an ambitious plan but I fully expect to look back at year's end and be satisfied that we achieved the goal. And if we and Bunnings Warehouse can do this together, wouldn't that set a great example for other companies and individuals to decide that it's time for great efforts for the environment from all of us."

Bunnings Warehouse says it's delighted to have joined Keep New Zealand Beautiful as a corporate sponsor. Keep New Zealand Beautiful accepts support from individuals, government, groups and industry.

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