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Publications
Final Report
Prepared by Nolan-ITU in association with RMIT Centre for Design and Eunomia Research and Consulting Ltd
December 2002
The plastic bag is an established part of Australian shopping – with approximately 6.9 billion plastic bags used by Australian consumers every year. The current plastic shopping bag is well suited to its task – it is cheap, lightweight, resource efficient, functional, moisture resistant, allows for quick packing at the supermarket and is remarkably strong for its weight. However, the perceived environmental impacts of plastic shopping bags have raised community concern.
The Commonwealth Government resolved to evaluate the likely impacts of taxes and levies on plastic bags and the potential impacts of alternatives to provide a solid base for informed debate and national policy development regarding plastic shopping bags in Australia. Nolan-ITU, in association with the RMIT Centre for Design and Eunomia Research and Consulting, has been commissioned by Environment Australia to conduct the evaluation.
The purpose of this report is to explore the options and their associated potential environmental and economic impacts to inform policy and decision making. Therefore, no specific policy recommendations are made.
Note: In September 2006, the report was revised to correct an error on page 30. The sentence:
'A figure of 100,000 marine animals killed annually has been widely quoted by environmental groups; this figure was from a study in Newfoundland which estimated the number of animals entrapped by plastic bags in that area from a four-year period from 1981-84'
Has been replaced with:
'A figure of 100,000 marine animals killed annually has been widely quoted by environmental groups; this figure was from a study in Newfoundland which estimated the number of animals entrapped by plastic debris in that area from a four-year period from 1981-84'
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