Your great grandmother used them, your grandmother used them and even your mother may have, if you were brought up in the fifties and sixties. The old fashioned, ubiquitous, grocery shopping bag is about to make a comeback.

Click here to download the ‘Protect Our Future – Reuse Today’ graphic

The councils in the Auckland region have been working together to offer consumers a sustainable alternative to throw away plastic shopping bags. They have been working with a number of stockists in New Zealand to develop affordable selection of New Zealand made and imported cloth bags and reusable bags.

The initial project partner, Foodstuffs (Northern Region) worked with the Auckland councils to introduce reusable cloth bags into Pak’N Save and New World stores from Kaitaia to Gisborne. As a result an attractive graphic ‘Protect Our Future – Reuse Today’ was designed by artist Geoffrey Cox for the Auckland councils, which emphasises that action taken today can help look after our environment for the next generation.

There are a number of other initiatives by NGOs, shopping bag stockists and retailers within New Zealand offering reusable cloth or non-woven polypropylene bags, which is great to see. Together we can make sustained change!

Reusable bags have many uses include grocery shopping bag, library bag, lunch bag, swimming bag, or conference satchel. Think outside the square!

The initiative is the third stage of the U Prevent Waste Campaign undertaken by the combined councils of the Auckland region.

Graphic Availability

Councils, NGOs and other organisations wishing to use the graphic on individually sourced re-usable bags or t-shirts can download it free, along with the design use guidelines, click here.

Councils, NGOs and other organisations including other stores wanting to purchase the bags can download the latest Reusable Bag Stockist List, click here.

Cloth Bag download