Local Retailer Stories

Many Tasmania business, ranging from the small to the large, have gone plastic bag free and when asked, say that the transition was not difficult. Overall, customers are very supportive of shops that decide to provide plastic bag alternatives.

Here we highlight Tasmanian businesses leading the way.

Coles Bay - Australia's First Plastic Bag Free Town

Coles Bay became the first town in Australia to stop using plastic shopping bags. In 2003, Coles Bay retailers decided to reduce the number of plastic bags used in the area and stopped supplying them to customers. Instead they introduced alternatives including Australian made recycled paper bags and reusable calico shopping bags.

Coles Bay is one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist destinations, with over 140,000 visitors a year. Since the ban was implemented, it has been estimated that the town has avoided the use of millions of plastic bags.

The community-led initiative has been embraced by the locals, resulting in significant environmental benefits, plus the printed Coles Bay bags continue to be very popular with the tourists.

Pictured above at the 10 year community celebration in 2013 are Cassy O’Connor MP, Tania Rattray MLC and Ben Kearney from Coles Bay and Jon Dee of DoSomething! who led and supported the community initiative.

Plastic bag free shop - La Mar Cafe Providore, Turners Beach La Mar Cafe Providore, situated at Turners Beach, is one of many Tasmanian businesses which have gone plastic bag free. La Mar Cafe Providore is a café, deli, grocer and giftware shop selling fresh produce and whole foods sourced in Tasmania wherever possible.

Joint owners, Susan & Gina Hendriks decided to stop providing plastic shopping bags. They believe that there is now too much plastic waste and through their own business have tried to reflect these views. They now encourage all customers to bring their own reusable bags and offer boxes, paper bags and cotton bags to those who arrive without their own.

Plastic bag free school fair - Taroona Primary School Seaside Festival and Twilight Feast In line with their goal to run events in an environmentally friendly manner, Taroona Primary School is proud to hold plastic shopping bag free feasts and festivals.

Every second year the School holds a Seaside Festival for the Taroona community, providing entertainment and home-made food, all with a seaside theme. Each alternate year the School hosts a Twilight Feast, providing gourmet food, cocktails and music.

To compensate for the lack of plastic bags, the School purchases calico bags, which the children then paint with beautiful marine-focussed art work. Parents buy most of the bags decorated by their children. Their Christmas-themed calico bags are also popular.

Taroona Primary School’s tips for an environmentally friendly fair are:

• Sell strong and practical reusable bags, decorated by the kids. They’re a hit!

• Have a plan for reusing any plastic bags you receive filled with goods for the fair (e.g. give them to students at the end of the year to carry their books home).

• Put reminders in the school newsletter: be prepared to buy a bag or remember reusable bags.

• Start collecting boxes early to give to customers. • Wash and re-use crockery, cutlery and glasses each year, or provide

compostable ones.

Plastic bag free market - Hobart and Bellerive Farm Gate Markets Held every Sunday in Hobart, the Farm Gate Market showcases local fruit and vegetables, artisan food products, specialty beverages, plants, vegetable seedlings and other Tasmanian goods.

The Farm Gate Market has been plastic shopping bag free for many years. Re-usable Farm Gate Market bags can be purchased at the Farm Gate Cafe or at any of the stalls at the cost price of $1.20. Many of the stalls also provide paper bags and boxes and customers are now generally prepared with their own reusable bags, baskets or trolleys.

Plastic bag free community event - The MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival The MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) is committed to a policy of environmentally sustainable practice in waste handling. Accordingly, stallholders are required to use only certified compostable packaging, including compostable crockery, cutlery and carry bags.

Plastic bag free exhibitor - Smitten Merino at agricultural and craft shows Tasmanian business Smitten Merino produces premium super fine merino wool clothing and is a regular exhibitor at Agfest, the Deloraine Craft Fair and other shows in Tasmania and on the mainland. Their clothing is manufactured within Tasmania using wool sourced from Tasmanian and Australian wool growing regions.

Since their inception they have been plastic bag free. When deciding on the most sustainable packaging options available, they chose paper bags made from recycled materials. Their online sales are simply wrapped in tissue paper.

All exhibitors at fairs and events after 1 November 2013 have had to follow the lead of businesses such as Smitten Merino. Exhibitors are not able to supply customers with lightweight shopping bags for their purchases. They are, however, able to supply their customers with another bag option, including paper bags, thicker boutique-style plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags and reusable bags.

This image is of local author Rachael Treasure with her Smitten Merino bag of goods.