Harris Farm Market has announced it will reduce single-use plastic bags at it 23 stores by 30 per cent.
The New South Wales (NSW) greengrocer has partnered with Clean Up Australia to cut down on plastic bags, and will donate 5c for every customers that refuses plastic bags at checkout counters until the end of July.
Harris Farm Market is campaigning to get a state-wide ban on plastic bags – an issue put forward by TV presenter Waleed Aly on Channel Ten’s The Project where he launched the #banthebag campaign.
Co-CEOs of family business, Harris Farm, Angus, Luke and Tristan Harris, have been campaigning for customers to shift to more sustainable choices.
“For at least ten years we have offered our customers the choice of boxes as an alternative to plastic bags, and will continue to encourage them to bring their own bags as we try to change the trajectory of our collective pollution. We now also offer customers the choice to purchase reusable paper bags sold at cost price,” Tristan Harris said.
“We see it as our responsibility to decrease our environmental footprint and drive change within our stores and nationwide. However, we are just one retailer, and the NSW government needs to enact this ban to avoid us facing a frightening future where we pollute and destroy our marine wildlife.”
Even with alternative carry bag options, Harris Farm Market is only too aware of its contribution to the five billion plastic bags distributed in Australia annually, and the 80 million plastic bags that end up in Australia’s litter stream.
Clean Up Australia executive chairman Ian Kiernan said he’s thrilled Harris Farm is on board to reduce plastic bags at checkouts.
“This shows true leadership and I urge customers to join us in a partnership that can make a real difference today,” he said.
