Plastic Bags
Why Homo sapiens are doomed to go extinct
In his new book, A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, British palaeontologist and evolutionary biologist Dr Henry Gee offers a rather blunt assessment of why humanity might already be a dead… Audio
A museum dedicated to plastic bags has opened in Scotland
A museum dedicated to plastic bags has opened in Scotland. Curator of the museum, Katrina Cobain talks to the Panel about why she's decided to pay tribute to plastic bags. Audio
Plastic ban approaches 1 year anniversary
No penalties or warnings have been issued, and much of our plastic waste is still shipped off overseas. Audio
Rachel Brown: Plastic bags are just the beginning
The CEO of the Sustainable Business Network says now that single use plastic bags are banned, they are working on getting rid of unnecessary plastic packaging. Audio
Reusable bags killing people, David Seymour says
Scientist Siouxsie Wiles has slammed ACT leader David Seymour's comments about killer reusable shopping bags, labelling them as irresponsible. Audio
Countdown starts to phase out single-use plastic bags
Half of Countdown's 181 supermarkets have already got rid of single-use plastic bags - but the move has received mixed reactions. Video, Audio
Plastic bag phase-out: getting a handle on it
The government announced on Friday that it plans to phase out single-use plastic bags by July next year. The mandatory phase-out will be developed under the Waste Minimisation Act but over the next… Audio
Single-use plastic bags to be banned by July, 2019
The Government has announced plans to rid the country of single-use plastic bags in a year's time, saying the hundreds of millions used here each year are polluting our coastlines and waterways. Video, Audio
Can we phase out plastic bags in just one year?
The government has pledged to phase out all single-use plastic bags over the next 12 months, but is that realistic given how useful and ubiquitous they are in daily life? Professor Al Gillespie joins… Audio
"Plastic bag rage" headed for NZ?
Australia's experiencing bag rage. This story may be a bit of a beat-up, forgive the pun, but Aussie media are reporting apoplexy and physical assaults on staff by shoppers irate at having the plastic… Audio
'Bag rage' as Australian plastic bag ban bites
As major Australian retailers ditch single-use plastic bags, supermarket chains are scrambling to combat "bag rage" as frustrated shoppers vent their anger.
Plastic bags ban
This is going to become an issue of "how" for us, because the Government will ban plastic bags at some stage, it has said. Audio
Single-use plastic bags
The Government will outlaw single-use plastic bags in some shape or form. The United Nations today says outlawing single-use can be effective in cutting back on waste, but poor follow-through has left… Audio
World Environment Day
Countdown, SuperValue and Fresh Choice supermarkets are going stop selling plastic straws by October. Some companies are also committing to phasing-in the use of 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or… Audio
Day one of plastic bag-free for 10 Countdowns across the country
Progressive Enterprises recently announced all its stores would be ditching plastic bags by the end of the year. Johnsonville Countdown is one of the first, with only reusable bags now on offer. Video, Audio
Organic compostable bag struggles to meet NZ standard
The move away from single use plastic bags is gaining momentum - the Warehouse today announced it is scrapping plastic bags from its 254 stores by the end of the year. It's replacing them with… Audio, Gallery
Countdown begins moves to go plastic-free
Countdown is making the move to plastic-free checkouts with 10 supermarkets the first to test the changes, however one critic says the move doesn't go far enough.
Public pleased with Countdown's plastic bag phase-out
The company says it's the first step of a wider initiative to reduce plastic, and all of its supermarkets will follow suit by the end of the year. RNZ asked Countdown customers what they think. Video, Audio
Countdown takes first step to ban plastic bags in 10 stores
Ten Countdown supermarkets across the country will no longer supply single-use plastic bags from 21 May, the first step in its move to phase out the bags across all its supermarkets by the end of the… Video, Audio
65,000 people sign petition to ban single-use plastic bags
Minister of Conservation Euginie Sage says New Zealand needs to follow the 30 other countries which have already passed legislation to ban single-use plastic bags or established levies. Video, Audio