For immediate release: 29 March 2007

First major NZ retailer to pull all plastic bags from stores

- Millions less plastic bags in landfills and more resources for Keep New Zealand Beautiful-

There will be millions less plastic bags in New Zealand landfills as one of New Zealand’s largest retailers pulls plastic bags from its stores.

Bunnings Warehouse is the first major New Zealand retailer to go totally plastic bag free.

Bunnings Warehouse will move to plastic bag free at the end of 2007. As a transitional measure, Bunnings Warehouse will introduce a ten-cent levy on plastic checkout bags in all stores throughout New Zealand with all money donated to Keep New Zealand Beautiful, effective 1 May.

The levy will be in place until 31 December 2007 with funds going to Keep New Zealand Beautiful to assist with litter abatement and environmental programmes. On 1 January 2008 Bunnings will totally eliminate the use of plastic checkout bags across all New Zealand stores.

Bunnings general manager Brad Cranston says the initiative emphasises Bunnings’ commitment to the local environment and communities in which it operates.

“Last financial year alone Bunnings New Zealand handed out approximately 3.5 million plastic bags to customers, so by taking a strong stance on the reduction of plastic bags we know we can make a significant difference to the environment.

“By implementing the levy and phasing out the use of plastic bags in our stores we can prevent millions of bags ending up in landfill or as litter on our beaches, streets and parks.

“We hope our initiative will encourage other New Zealand retailers to introduce comparable programmes.”

A similar programme implemented by Bunnings in Australia raised more than AU$166,000 for the Keep Australia Beautiful Council, and removed a potential 66 million bags from the waste and litter stream.

Hon. Roger McClay, chairman of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, is thrilled with the commitment Bunnings has made to environmental initiatives, and the proactive stance Bunnings is taking on this important environmental issue.

"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."

Bunnings’ approach to reducing plastic bag usage has been two-fold. In late 2005 Bunnings introduced red and green reusable bags and, in the last 12 months, approximately 7,000 have been sold. More than half of these reusable bags have been sold in the past four months, indicating a positive trend towards reusable bags among the New Zealand population. Bunnings has also introduced recycled cardboard boxes as another alternative for customers.

- ENDS -

© Scoop Media