New Zealand has set a groundbreaking precedent by becoming the first country in the world to extend its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to include thin bags typically used for holding fruits and vegetables. This move, which came into effect on Saturday, marks a significant stride in the government's broader campaign against single-use plastics.

<h2>New Zealand and plastic ban</h2>

In 2019, the nation put in place its initial ban on take-home plastic bags. Since then, most shoppers in New Zealand have already adapted to bringing their own bags when visiting stores.&nbsp;

Rachel Brooking the Associate Environment Minister said that: "New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste."

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She further revealed that the ban on thicker bags introduced in 2019 has already saved over one billion plastic bags from circulation.

This cultural shift, as per the BBC, has contributed to the remarkable progress the country has made in reducing plastic waste. The expansion of the ban is projected to prevent the use of approximately 150 million plastic bags per year.&nbsp;

<h2>Expert concerns</h2>

Some critics have expressed concerns that consumers might resort to disposable paper bags, which are still available in supermarkets.&nbsp;

However, acknowledging these concerns, Minister Brooking emphasised the overarching goal of reducing single-use packaging of any kind.&nbsp;

"It's still worth doing this, but we really want to reduce single-use anything packaging."

"So we want people to be bringing their own bags, and supermarkets are selling reusable produce bags," she added.

The government encourages individuals to bring their own bags, while supermarkets have responded by offering reusable produce bags as an alternative.

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Countdown, a prominent supermarket chain operating over 185 stores nationwide, has taken proactive steps by introducing reusable polyester mesh bags for shoppers to use specifically for fruits and vegetables.&nbsp;

The company hopes that by providing these bags, it will inspire customers to make the switch to reusable options.&nbsp;

Catherine Langabeer, the head of sustainability at Countdown, acknowledged the challenges associated with change, and said, "We know change is hard and (it) will take them a little while."&nbsp;

"We get some grumpy customers," she added.

<h2>New Zealand government's commitment to addressing climate change</h2>

The New Zealand government has shown its commitment to addressing climate change through various initiatives. In October, it proposed a pioneering scheme to tax greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals such as sheep and cattle. This progressive approach aims to hold farmers accountable for their agricultural emissions in some form by 2025 — the country's farming industry is responsible for about half of its emissions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Zealand has set a groundbreaking precedent by becoming the first country in the world to extend its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to include thin bags typically used for holding fruits and vegetables.

New Zealand has set a groundbreaking precedent by becoming the first country in the world to extend its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to include thin bags typically used for holding fruits and vegetables. This move, which came into effect on Saturday, marks a significant stride in the government's broader campaign against single-use plastics. New Zealand and plastic ban In 2019, the nation put in place its initial ban on take-home plastic bags. Since then, most shoppers in New Zealand have already adapted to bringing their own bags when visiting stores. Rachel Brooking the Associate Environment Minister said that: "New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste." Also read | UK's Orkney Islands want to join Norway over financial neglect She further revealed that the ban on thicker bags introduced in 2019 has already saved over one billion plastic bags from circulation. This cultural shift, as per the BBC, has contributed to the remarkable progress the country has made in reducing plastic waste. The expansion of the ban is projected to prevent the use of approximately 150 million plastic bags per year. Expert concerns Some critics have expressed concerns that consumers might resort to disposable paper bags, which are still available in supermarkets. However, acknowledging these concerns, Minister Brooking emphasised the overarching goal of reducing single-use packaging of any kind. "It's still worth doing this, but we really want to reduce single-use anything packaging." "So we want people to be bringing their own bags, and supermarkets are selling reusable produce bags," she added. The government encourages individuals to bring their own bags, while supermarkets have responded by offering reusable produce bags as an alternative. Also read | Anticipation and dread: Here's what we know about the final moments of passengers aboard Titan submersible Countdown, a prominent supermarket chain operating over 185 stores nationwide, has taken proactive steps by introducing reusable polyester mesh bags for shoppers to use specifically for fruits and vegetables. The company hopes that by providing these bags, it will inspire customers to make the switch to reusable options. Catherine Langabeer, the head of sustainability at Countdown, acknowledged the challenges associated with change, and said, "We know change is hard and (it) will take them a little while." "We get some grumpy customers," she added. New Zealand government's commitment to addressing climate change The New Zealand government has shown its commitment to addressing climate change through various initiatives. In October, it proposed a pioneering scheme to tax greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals such as sheep and cattle. This progressive approach aims to hold farmers accountable for their agricultural emissions in some form by 2025 — the country's farming industry is responsible for about half of its emissions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New Zealand takes lead in plastic bag ban, expands restrictions to thin bags

Traders, shopkeepers, and others in India have started looking for an alternative to plastic amid the anticipation of a blanket ban on single-use plastic across the country.

Traders, shopkeepers look for alternative as India begins war on plastic

Kenyans producing, selling or even using&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;bags&nbsp;will risk imprisonment of up to four years or fines of $40,000 from Monday, as the&nbsp;world&#39;s&nbsp;toughest&nbsp;law&nbsp;aimed at reducing&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;pollution came into effect.

The East African nation joins more than 40 other countries that have banned, partly banned or taxed single use&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;bags, including China, France, Rwanda, and Italy.

Many&nbsp;bags&nbsp;drift into the ocean, strangling turtles, suffocating seabirds and filling the stomachs of dolphins and whales with waste until they die of starvation.

&quot;If we continue like this, by 2050, we will have more&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;in the ocean than fish,&quot; said Habib El-Habr, an expert on marine litter working with the U.N. Environment Programme in&nbsp;Kenya.

Plastic&nbsp;bags, which El-Habr says take between 500 to 1,000 years to break down, also enter the human food chain through fish and other animals. In Nairobi&#39;s slaughterhouses, some cows destined for human consumption had 20&nbsp;bags&nbsp;removed from their stomachs.

&quot;This is something we didn&#39;t get ten years ago but now it&#39;s almost on a daily basis,&quot; said county vet Mbuthi Kinyanjui as he watched men in bloodied white uniforms scoop sodden&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;bags from the stomachs of cow carcasses.

Kenya&#39;s&nbsp;law&nbsp;allows police to go after anyone even carrying a&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;bag. But Judy Wakhungu, Kenya&#39;s environment minister, said enforcement would initially be directed at manufacturers and suppliers.

&quot;Ordinary wananchi will not be harmed,&quot; she told Reuters, using a Kiswahili word for &quot;common man&quot;.

It took&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;three attempts over ten years to finally pass the ban, and not everyone is a fan.

Samuel Matonda, a spokesman for the&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;Association of Manufacturers, said it would cost 60,000 jobs and force 176 manufacturers to close.&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;is a major exporter of&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;bags&nbsp;to the region.

&quot;The knock-on effects will be very severe,&quot; Matonda said.

&quot;It will even affect the women who sell vegetables in the market, how will their customers carry their shopping home?&quot;

Big&nbsp;Kenyan supermarket chains like France&#39;s Carrefour &lt;CARR.PA&gt; and Nakumatt has already started offering customers cloth&nbsp;bags&nbsp;as alternatives.

The East African nation joins more than 40 other countries that have banned, partly banned or taxed single use plastic bags, including China, France, Rwanda, and Italy

Kenyans producing, selling or even using plastic bags will risk imprisonment of up to four years or fines of $40,000 from Monday, as the world's toughest law aimed at reducing plastic pollution came into effect. The East African nation joins more than 40 other countries that have banned, partly banned or taxed single use plastic bags, including China, France, Rwanda, and Italy. Many bags drift into the ocean, strangling turtles, suffocating seabirds and filling the stomachs of dolphins and whales with waste until they die of starvation. "If we continue like this, by 2050, we will have more plastic in the ocean than fish," said Habib El-Habr, an expert on marine litter working with the U.N. Environment Programme in Kenya. Plastic bags, which El-Habr says take between 500 to 1,000 years to break down, also enter the human food chain through fish and other animals. In Nairobi's slaughterhouses, some cows destined for human consumption had 20 bags removed from their stomachs. "This is something we didn't get ten years ago but now it's almost on a daily basis," said county vet Mbuthi Kinyanjui as he watched men in bloodied white uniforms scoop sodden plastic bags from the stomachs of cow carcasses. Kenya's law allows police to go after anyone even carrying a plastic bag. But Judy Wakhungu, Kenya's environment minister, said enforcement would initially be directed at manufacturers and suppliers. "Ordinary wananchi will not be harmed," she told Reuters, using a Kiswahili word for "common man". It took Kenya three attempts over ten years to finally pass the ban, and not everyone is a fan. Samuel Matonda, a spokesman for the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, said it would cost 60,000 jobs and force 176 manufacturers to close. Kenya is a major exporter of plastic bags to the region. "The knock-on effects will be very severe," Matonda said. "It will even affect the women who sell vegetables in the market, how will their customers carry their shopping home?" Big Kenyan supermarket chains like France's Carrefour <CARR.PA> and Nakumatt has already started offering customers cloth bags as alternatives.

Kenya imposes world's toughest law against plastic bags

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plastic bag-ban

New Zealand takes lead in plastic bag ban, expands restrictions to thin bags

Traders, shopkeepers look for alternative as India begins war on plastic

Kenya imposes world's toughest law against plastic bags