Women's fashion label joins fight against plastic bags

A New Zealand clothing label has teamed up with Plastic Free New Zealand to create reusable tote bags and discourage the use of plastic bags.

The company, Kilt, created the fundraising initiative that gives customers the option to buy the bags made from excess fabric off-cuts at $5 a tote, with all money raised going to a range of environmental charities.

Kilt business manager Lauren Hart says thinking of creative ways to use excess fabric is so important and keeps Kilt’s fabric waste to a minimum.

“Doing our bit for the environment is more necessary than ever right now, plus we get to give back to the community we love. It’s a win-win,” she says.

The New Zealand brand is backing the fight against plastic bags by making a donation every time a customer reuses their tote.

Raedon Kane, from the One Bag at a Time organisation, says initiatives such as Kilt’s are a great step towards reducing the amount of plastic bags polluting the environment.

“For something that is only used for around 15 minutes to have such a huge affect on our environment, it proves just how positive it would be to rid our country of them,” he says.

“Plastic bags breakdown into tiny pieces until they reach micro-plastic state. This is where they become dangerous as marine animals ingest these tiny bits of plastic mistaking them for food.”

Meanwhile, Auckland Council recently announced a revised six-year waste plan targeting plastic use.

The council's Waste Management Minimisation plan will see a boost in recycling centres, with a projected 12 centres open by 2024.

Raedon Kane, from the One Bag at a Time, talks about the impact of one-use plastic bags.