Bag Smart is a social marketing campaign to reduce plastic shopping bags and has been operating since September 2003

Bags Smart connects people to the issue of plastic bags, demonstrates that there are alternatives, and supports the take up of sustainable social change

Bag Smart supports retailers, community leaders, groups and organisations to develop and implement community - based campaigns through harnessing people’s interest and commitment, and fostering partnerships.

These campaigns are an illustration of how all sectors of a community can pull together to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment

Bag Smart and the plastic bag issue has proven to be a catalyst to engaging communities on the wider issue of sustainability and how we all can reduce our footprint on the environment by our changing buying decisions and our daily actions, including the way we carry our shopping.

Bags Smart provide support materials to Retailers, Communities and Schools –click here for a list of these materials

The key themes are the 5rs.

Refuse  Say “No Thanks” to plastic shopping bags at the checkout

Reduce  Only use plastic bags for those foodstuffs where it is necessary for good hygiene

Reuse  Use alternative bags to carry your shopping

Recycle  Return any unwanted plastic shopping bags to the store for recycling

Re-think  Consider how our actions impact on the environment