Perfect alternative to single-use plastic
Lauree Jones doesn’t class herself as the plastic police but she does want to make a difference - one reusable bag at a time.
By Christmas Jones, the Taranaki Enviroschools’ regional coordinator, hopes to launch the Boomerang Bag initiative in Taranaki and she needs needle-bearing recruits to help her create the reusable bags.
‘‘This is Taranaki Enviroschools’ initiative to try to support the elimination of single use plastic bags and so this is just one way of doing that,’’ she said. ‘‘We want to get them [Boomerang Bags] out in the community as well as encouraging people to remember their re-usuable bags.’’
Boomerang Bags are reusable bags that the community creates, uses and shares - if they like.
‘‘It’s a little bit like taking your own reusable cup to a coffee shop, getting it refilled, or using your own water bottle,’’ Jones said. ‘‘They’re all very similar concepts.’’
However, in order to get the bags ready and accessible to the community by Christmas, Jones needs volunteers.
‘‘It’s just about getting local schools and local communities to get on board with this - to start sewing for us, and actually just using these bags,’’ she said. ‘‘What we’d love to have happening is all the bags sewn in the South Taranaki region, stay in the South Taranaki region. Same with the Stratford, and same with the New Plymouth area.’’
There is currently no one in South or Coastal Taranaki who has offered a sewing hand. ‘‘They just need a sewing machine or an overlocker and an iron, and time, and enthusiasm and a smiling face,’’ Jones said.
Boomerang Bags started in Australia but has since spread worldwide. The original idea was to borrow, and return the handmade bags, instead of using single-use plastic bags.
‘‘But we’ve had a bit of feedback that’s daunting,’’ Jones said. ‘‘So what we thought was, well we’ll take away the pressure totally. We want people just to grab it, and just reuse it.’’
Jones said if anyone was willing to help, she’d send them a pattern, and the pockets with the logo on them. ‘‘People can do it as a one off or they can do it over a long period of time.’’
If you’re interested in helping with sewing, or donating fabric, empty calf bags, or even wallpaper, contact Lauree via email at lauree.jones@enviroschools.org.nz