Some beaches in NSW (Dee Why & Watsons Bay) have levels of plastic as high as 1,000 microplastics per square metre. Yikes!

To significantly reduce this number NSW has finally come to the party and decided to stop plastic waste at its source!

NSW was the only state without a ban on lightweight plastic bags, which are considered one of the most lethal plastics for ocean wildlife.

What other plastic items will be banned?

6 months after the new NSW law is passed, plastic bags will be banned. Within 12 months we can expect plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers, polystyrene takeaway items, plastic cotton buds, and microbeads used in skincare to join the list of banned items. *woot woot*

How many Australian states are left to ban plastic bags?

This means that now all states and territories in Australia have banned lightweight plastic bags! 

Image via: marineconservation.org

On top of this, the NSW government announced that they will be investing $10 million into helping manufacturers and retailers move to more sustainable alternatives, $5 million for projects with a focus on reducing hard to recycling plastics like medical waste, and an additional $2 million for research.

How many microplastics are on Australian beaches?

Check AUSMAP(Australian Microplastic Assessment Project), a searchable and interactive map that allows everyone to see where the highest volume of microplastics are found in Australia. It breaks data down into the average number of microplastics found per square meter and even the colour, type, and size of the plastics found.

How you can make an impact on an individual level...

We don't need to wait for laws and regulations to be implemented before we can start creating powerful change on an individual level. Start phasing out single-use from your life today. If you'd like to take it a step further than a plastic bag or single-use straw head to our zero blog to see where to start your zero waste journey.

At go for zero we only stock products that are packaged sustainably. This means our products are packaged in reusable, compostable, or easily recyclable material that contains little to no plastic. We constantly challenge our suppliers to use better packaging!

Why do we avoid plastic packaging where possible? 

Glass, aluminium, and metals can be recycled an infinite amount of times without losing their quality. Unlike plastic which can only be recycled 1-2 times before the quality is too poor that it has to head to landfill!

To make it easier we've added a filter to our site that lets you shop by packaging. Switch to 100% toxin-free and Aussie-owned products in low waste packaging today.

Spread the news and make an impact by sharing this blog with your zero waste besties!