Supermarket plastic bags are harming our environment

We, the undersigned, wish to request that Progressive Enterprises Limited supermarkets (Foodtown, Countdown, Woolworths) stop handing out plastic bags for free and recognise that these are a large contributor to the global environmental issue.

In New Zealand, about 18,000 tonnes of CO2 are produced per year by the production and use of plastic bags, out of a total of 33,958 tonnes (2002) of CO2. One billion single use plastic bags are used per year in New Zealand, and 9,000 tonnes of plastic is used annually for supermarket bags.

Environmental campaigns in Australia led to a 30\% reduction in plastic bag use for Woolworths Limited. This proves that every person makes a difference and that if we all co-operate our environmental problem can be solved.

Plastic bags create CO2 emissions, contributing hugely to Global Warming, litter the environment, blocking drains, and harming wildlife - 100,000 mammals and turtles are killed annually by plastic debris. Plastic bags take around 500 years to decompose.

For more reasons as to why you should take these steps visit http://www.zerowaste.co.nz/assets/Reports/PlasticShoppingBagsandbiodegradablepackaging.pdf

It has been proven that if customers paid 15 cents per plastic bag, there would be a 90\% reduction in the use of plastic in NZ.

We hereby request that you charge customers a small sum (10) per plastic bag and encourage them to use reusable and eco-friendly bags instead, (ideally cotton tote bags, as these are the most environmentally friendly bags).

We encourage you to listen to the publics request and realise that not only will the environment benefit from this decision, but that your company will also benefit.

Please stop and consider what you are doing to our beautiful environment and take the steps necessary to ensure our planet is preserved for future generations.