Sustainability Victoria is supporting Victorians to build Better Bag Habits this holiday season

Today saw Santa don a bright green Santa suit as he appeared at Bourke Street Mall to encourage Christmas shoppers to build Better Bag Habits during the festive season - the busiest retail period of the year.

Six weeks since lightweight plastic shopping bags were banned across Victoria and with just 12 shopping days left before Christmas, Sustainability Victoria and its green Santa were out supporting Victorians by handing out free limited-edition reusable tote bags. Visitors to the site also had their photo taken with the green suited Santa from 11:00am to 2:00pm.

Research carried out by Sustainability Victoria highlights that on average three quarters of Victorians are already using reusable bags when shopping for food and other items, like clothes and shoes.

The Better Bag Habits campaign aims to support Victorians to embrace the habit of bringing a reusable bag with them every day, just like their wallet, keys and phone before they leave home, especially during the holiday season.

“The holiday period is one of the busiest times of the year and Sustainability Victoria is here to support Victorians to develop Better Bag Habits throughout this season and beyond.” said Katie Pahlow, Director of Communications and Engagement – Sustainability Victoria.

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Sustainability Victoria by offering some simple tips and ideas to help Victorians build Better Bag Habits and get used to remembering their bags. These include:

• Before you leave home remember: Bag, Wallet, Keys and Phone.
• Bring a reusable bag with you when shopping this holiday season.  
• Keep reusable bags by the front door, at work or in your car - where you are more likely to remember them.
• Keep a foldable bag with you throughout the day in your handbag or backpack.
• Get used to saying ‘no bag please’ at the checkout.
• Take a bag or container at lunchtime when purchasing food from cafés and restaurants.
• Always bring a reusable bag when heading to a summer picnic, lunch or BBQ.  

Sustainability Victoria’s Better Bag Habits campaign aims to support the community aligned with the Victorian Government’s state-wide ban on lightweight plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less. The ban is the first step towards reducing single-use and unnecessary plastics.

For more information visit www.betterbaghabits.vic.gov.au

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