6 Simple Swaps To Help You Ditch Plastic Bags for Good
June 3 is International Plastic Bag Free Day. Here’s why it matters, how you can reduce your reliance on plastic bags, and other ways to help.
Plastic bags may seem small, but their impact is huge. Globally, we use an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags every year — nearly 160,000 bags every second. Most are used once and then tossed, with less than 10% ever being recycled. The rest end up in landfills, littered across landscapes, or floating in waterways where they can choke wildlife and break down into harmful microplastics.
The good news? We can do something about it. Here are six ways to cut plastic bag waste:
1. Carry a reusable bag (or two) everywhere
Stash one in your backpack, purse, pocket, or glove compartment. Foldable cloth bags are lightweight, durable, and easy to remember once you make it a habit. Look for machine-washable ones made from recycled materials or organic cotton.
2. Try trolley-style shopping carts
I’m *only* in my 40s, but I have finally decided to embrace the trolly. If you’re walking home, these are great for farmers’ markets or big grocery hauls. These will save your arms and shoulders!
3. Bring reusable produce bags.
How many times have you brought a reusable shopping bag, only to find yourself needing those thin, single use produce bags? It’s no wonder they are among the most common plastic litter items. Try mesh or cotton alternatives — or repurpose a clean pillowcase!
4. Forgot bags? Ask for a box.
Grocery stores and liquor stores often keep used boxes on hand. If you’re driving home or walking a short distance, a box is a good, sturdy alternative to a plastic bag.
5. Reuse any plastic bags you already have.
If you’ve got a stash, use them again and again. When they’re worn out, check if your municipality has a soft plastics recycling program.
6. Support businesses that embrace the shift.
Choose shops that offer incentives for bringing your own bags — or charge for single-use ones. These small nudges make a big difference.
Do plastic bag fees work?
Yes, they work. Charging 5-10 cents per bag can reduce plastic bag use by 50–90%, depending on how it’s implemented. In the U.K., plastic bag use dropped by 95% in major supermarkets after a mandatory fee was introduced. In Canada, the federal ban on single-use checkout bags (part of the 2022 plastics regulations) is pushing retailers and shoppers to shift toward reusables — though compliance varies.
Still, the biggest impact comes when individuals change habits and lead by example.
What about compostable plastic bags?
So-called compostable plastic bags only work in industrial composters — not in home composters — and many municipal facilities, like Toronto’s, don’t accept them. Unless a plastic bag is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and your facility accepts them, it will likely end up in a landfill — creating more methane, not less.
Not all reusable bags are created equal
Reusable bags are better than single-use plastic — but only if they’re built to last. Many of the cheap reusable bags handed out at stores are made from synthetic materials that shed microplastics and fall apart after just a few uses. They're also difficult to recycle and rarely reused enough to offset the resources used to make them. Not to mention that they tend to be bulky and ugly — which means you’re less likely to carry them around everywhere.
If you already have a stash of these bags, go ahead and keep using them as long as possible. But when you’re ready to upgrade, look for sturdy cloth or canvas bags that are machine-washable and made from natural or recycled materials. A good-quality bag, reused hundreds of times, does more good than a dozen flimsy ones gathering dust in a closet.
Get involved: campaigns & organizations tackling plastic pollution
These active groups are pushing for real policy change — join them!
Oceana Canada: Campaigning to reduce single-use plastics and strengthen federal regulations. Sign their petition urging the government to “Stop Plastic Pollution”
Greenpeace Canada: Advocating for a stronger global plastics treaty. Urge Canada to support a treaty that caps production and ensures refillable systems.
Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global movement calling for plastic bag taxes or outright bans and holding producers accountable. Learn more and join them.
#BreakFreeFromPlastic: A massive international network of 13,000+ groups demanding elimination of single-use plastics. Learn more and take action.
Every time you say no thanks to a plastic bag, you’re saying yes to cleaner rivers, healthier oceans, and a more sustainable future.
Let’s make plastic bags a thing of the past — one reusable bag at a time.