Greenpeace statement on plastic bags

Greenpeace supports campaigns for zero waste around the world, and campaigns strongly against plastic waste in many of our offices around the world. Plastic bags are an integral part of the plastic waste issue, and are part of the greater plastic pollution problem worldwide.

Greenpeace campaigns manager Steve Campbell said:

"Plastic bags cause problems for waste management, contribute significantly to plastic litter on land and at sea and harm and kill wildlife.  

"Greenpeace believes that a levy should be put on the use of plastic bags and ultimately they should be phased out. We encourage recycling and reuse in the short term. However, much more needs to be done to address the broader global plastic pollution problem.

"Plastic bags undoubtedly account for a proportion of the deaths of marine mammals, turtles and seabirds, in addition to other plastic waste such as old fishing nets," he said.

Greenpeace works globally to address the issues of the degradation of our oceans, from opposing destructive industrial fishing methods, to working for effective solutions to growing greenhouse gas emissions, which place entire ocean ecosystems and populations under threat.