Z cuts single-use plastic

Z Energy service stations has stopped giving single-use plastic bags to its customers - taking 2.5 million bags out of circulation each year.

For the past six months the petrol giant has been phasing out plastic bags in response to a groundswell of support from Kiwis for ending New Zealand’s dependency on plastic bags.

Z will not be replacing singleuse bags with an alternative claiming replacements are potentially equally or more damaging to the environment - customers will be required to bring their own reusable bags.

Sustainability manager Gerri Ward acknowledged the move may inconvenience some people while they get used to the change.

‘‘Most Z store customers buy only a few small items, so they’re well placed to make the shift to a more environmentally sustainable way of shopping,’’ Ward said.

She said ditching plastic bags completely was a simple way to reduce waste and pollution, but it was just a start to help reducing New Zealand’s waste volume which per capita is the second highest in the developed world.

‘‘Plastic bags are a major source of ocean and river pollution. They can take up to 1000 years to degrade and even then, they never disappear completely.’’

Following Stuff’s Bags Not campaign, a number of supermarkets, hardware stores, and clothing brands have followed suit and ditched the bag. Last month month, The Warehouse Group announced singleuse plastic bags will be gone from its checkouts from the end of the year.