Choosing the Right Option for Your Business
We've made it easy for you to Say NO today by making it easy for you to find alternatives to plastic bags.
We realise not all business have the same needs, so the first step in finding a suitable plastic bag alternative is to let us know what sort of business you are in.
Choosing an ethical supplier
When you're looking for an alternative bag supplier, there are some important questions you need to ask. If a company can't or won't answer these questions, consider taking your business elsewhere.
1. What is their alternative made of?
E.g. polypropylene, cotton, jute, paper etc. Investigate further if a supplier says their product is made of 'cloth' - they may be trying to convince you the material is natural fibre, when in fact it may be synthetic.
2. Where is the product manufactured?
A number of alternative bags are made overseas. This doesn't mean you should refuse to purchase the product - it just gives you a context, particularly for some of the questions below. Be careful of companies trying to pass their product off as 100% Australian made when this may not be the case.
3. What kind of employment practices are used to make the product?
E.g. does the company use child or forced labour? If the factory runs 24 hours, how long are shifts and break periods? Does the company comply with International Labour Organisation standards? Suppliers should not be selling products made using child/forced labour or under poor working conditions. The supplier should be able to provide evidence of working conditions, for example, a signed statement on letterhead from the manufacturer.
4. Is the manufacturing process environmentally sound?
E.g. does the company try to minimise the amount of natural resources used during production? How does the company manage its waste? Are off-cuts reused or recycled? Are heavy metal or toxic dyes used? Does the company try to conserve energy and water in production?
5. Does the product contain any recycled content?
E.g. off-cuts from polypropylene bags can be re-used in new bags
6. For paper bags, is a proportion of the bag made from recycled fibre?
Is the paper harvested from plantation trees or old growth forest?
Also, view this web site for more options: http://www.noplasticbags.org.au/alternatives/bagSelection.aspx
