Useful Links
These links worked when we added them, but things change and we apologise if they are no longer operating!
Plastic Bag Free
(http://groups.google.com:80/group/plasticbagfree?hl=en)
A forum for lots of local campaigns and campaigners, a very useful exchange of information and experience.
Marine Conservation Society report
(http://www.mcsuk.org/)
MCS long term impacts of plastic bags in the marine environment - August 2004 at http://www.mcsuk.org/downloads/policy/coastal_polln/MCS_Long_Term_Impacts_of_Plastic_Bags_In_the_Marine_Environment_(Aug_2004).doc
Marine Litter
(http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/)
United Nations Environment Programme Regional Seas Programme
News from Australia
(http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/06/14/1213321681805.html)
"Beyond guilt's horizons a plastic invasion fleet gathers", Catherine Cheung, June 14, 2008, Brisbane Times
Plastic Bags - Just say "No!"
(http://www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/63/newsDate/7/story.htm)
Planet Ark's plastic bag campaign
A short film about Modbury on YouTube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aGuwjVrfSk)
A short film about plastic-bag-free Modbury, with links to lots of other green / anti-plastic videos
"Hawai‘i -Message in the Waves"
(http://www.messageinthewaves.com/)
"Hawai‘i -Message in the Waves" is the film that inspired Modbury. From the BBC Natural History Unit, it looks at some of the environmental challenges facing the people and wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands.
Plastic Planet..."
(http://www.zeitgeistproductions.co.uk/)
"Plastic Planet: The Curse of the Carrier Bag", a short film about plastic bags, Director & Producer, Petica Watson Site operational soon
Plastic Plankton
(http://www.plasticplankton.co.uk/)
An innovative art project by Lou McCurdy, highlighting the damaging effects plastic debris has on our oceans and marine life.
Ask your MP...
(http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32511&SESSION=885)
Ask your MP to sign EDM 814 on excessive packaging (check deadline and signatories first).
Tax plastic bags
(http://www.green-england.co.uk/plasticbagpetition)
Petition calling for a tax of 10p on each plastic bag issued, to be spent explicitly on environmental projects
Petition Downing Street
(http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/)
Petitions on the Downing Street website about waste, recycling or plastic bags can be accessed here,or you can start your own.
Where stuff recycled in Kingston goes
(http://www.kingston.gov.uk/materials)
Table detailing where materials collected from Kingston kerbside collections and Villiers Road Civic Amenity Site are taken to be recycled.
Eco-footprint Working Group
(http://www.e-voice.org.uk/kingston-footprint/)
The Kingston Eco-footprint Working Group aims to contribute to reducing Kingston's ecological footprint to a sustainable level as early as possible, in line with the RBK's Community Plan
BBC R4 Today item: No waste at all?
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7501000/7501421.stm)
BBC R4 Today programme, 11/7/08, 0735 With the 'waste wars' that often make headlines in this country, environment analyst Roger Harrabin visits Kamikatsu, a south-east Japanese island where there are no waste collections at all. Listen at http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7501000/7501421.stm
Recycle now
(http://www.recyclenow.com)
Useful information on recycling including “Can it be recycled?” on all kinds of materials
WRAP
(http://www.wrap.org.uk/)
Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often.
Recoup
(http://www.recoup.org/business/default.asp)
“The UK's leading authority on plastics waste management, providing expertise and guidance to a wide range of clients across the plastics supply, use and disposal chain. Recoup is built on a network of members and associated organisations across all sectors involved in plastics manufacture, use, disposal and recycling.”
Freecycle
(http://www.freecycle.org/)
Not much to do with plastic bags, but a great way of keeping unwanted stuff out of landfill.
recycle-more.co.uk
(http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/)
Help and advice on all aspects of recycling at home, at school and in the workplace
Reduce Reuse Recycle
(http://www.reducereuserecycle.co.uk/)
A "Green Guide" to reducing, reusing and recycling, with links to lots of useful suppliers
Environment and greener living advice
(http://direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Greenerlivingaquickguide/DG_064365)
Government advice on the environment and recycling.
Guardian on-line on plastic bags
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/plasticbags)
The Guardian's environmental section includes up-to-date news and features on plastic bags
Abolish Plastic Bags
(http://www.abolishplasticbags.org.uk/)
Lots of information and discussion for plastic bag campaigners
WRAP
(http://www.wrap.org.uk/)
Waste & Resources Action Programme - one of WRAP's aims is "the removal from the waste stream of at least three million additional tonnes of materials"
Fair Pack
(http://www.fairpack.org/)
Fairpack is hoping to supply biodegradable plastic bags, recycled paper bags and cotton bags to small retailers at an affordable price.
WRAP study Carrier Bag Usage...
(http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/CarrierBagUsage.3b16ee7c.pdf)
WRAP research study on Carrier Bag Usage And Attitudes, key findings. Read some extracts in Useful Information) Full report at http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/CarrierBagUsageFull.3722cd41.pdf
Scottish Executive report
(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/57346/0016900.pdf)
Scottish Executive, 2005: Environment Group Research Report on Proposed Plastic Bag Levy - Extended Impact Assessment (examines environmental impact of alternatives as well)
UK retailers sign up...
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070228a.htm)
UK retailers sign up to cut the environmental impact of carrier bags (Defra press release, 28 Feb 2007)
Discount biodegradable bags
(http://www.discountbiodegradablebags.co.uk/)
Jute Expo
(http://www.jutexpo.com/)
Importer of ethical, eco-friendly, biodegradable, climate neutral jute bags, and supplier to many high street stores
Eco Bags
(http://www.ecobags.co.uk)
Bluepanda
(http://www.bluepanda.co.uk/acatalog/Cotton_Shopper_Bags.htm)
Printed cotton bags to order
Felthams
(http://www.cplfelthams.co.uk/index.php?pageid=3)
Offer a range of cotton bags, inc organic and coloured
Shopping Bags Direct
(http://www.shoppingbagsdirect.co.uk/productspecial.asp?cat_id=2&sub_cat_id=31)
Friends of the Earth
(http://www.foe.co.uk/shop)
WWF-UK
(http://www.wwf.org.uk/shop)
Oxfam
(http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop)
Amnesty International web-shop
(http://www.amnestyshop.org.uk)
Natural Collection
(http://www.naturalcollection.com/natural-products/New-Greenpeaces-little-green-bag-for-Shopping.aspx)
for Greenpeace's "little green shopping bag"
Keen
(http://www.keeneurope.eu)
In their Harvest series, Keen sell bags made out of recycled rice sacks, with buckles made from cans.
Lakeland
(http://www.lakeland.co.uk/)
Web-based shop for all things useful, including long-life bags and baskets made of wicker, organic string or recycled plastic, as well as compostable bags for rubbish.
Bottletop
(http://www.bottletop.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=88)
A charity that manufactures and sells bags made of recycled bottle tops, providing income for poor people locally.
Bags of Change
(http://www.bagsofchange.co.uk/)
Use these organic hemp-cotton bags and get discounts on local, organic and Fairtrade goods at participating stores.
Shopping Bags Direct
(http://www.shoppingbagsdirect.co.uk/productspecial.asp?cat_id=2&sub_cat_id=31)
Lets Bee Greener
(http://reusablebags.letsbeegreener.co.uk)
On-line retailer of a range of 100% cotton bags, singly or in sets.
The Green Store online
(http://www.thegreenstoreonline.co.uk)
Geccobags
(http://www.geccobags.co.uk)
Large durable bags, designed to fit into supermarket trolleys, some made of cotton or canvas
DeWeNe
(http://www.dewene.com)
New company DeWeNe (Designs we need) offer a “Hook and Go” shopping trolley
Swedish trial of cornstarch waste bags
(http://www.biobags.co.uk/technical/luleaSurvey.html)
Results of a Swedish trial project on using cornstarch bags for collection of compostable waste
Discount biodegradable bags
(http://www.discountbiodegradablebags.co.uk/)
Information about biodegradable packaging and bioplastics and biodegradable or compostable film/bags
Biobag Limited
(http://www.biobag.no/default.pl?showPage=246)
Supplier of cornstarch bags (England and Wales only)as used in plastic-bag-free Modbury Comet Road Moss Side Industrial Estate Leyland Lancashire PR26 7PF UK Tel: +44 1772 641 348 Fax: +44 1772 621 065 Email: biobag@btconnect.com
Discount biodegradable bags
(http://www.discountbiodegradablebags.co.uk/)
Information about biodegradable packaging and bioplastics and biodegradable or compostable film/bags,with links to relevant suppliers and services.
PolyBio
(http://www.polybags.co.uk/index_scroll.htm)
PolyBio starch bags made from potato starch (100% renewable,sustainable and made from a waste product) but so far only for waste
BioBags (Scotland)
(http://www.biobags.co.uk)
Suppliers of biodegradable and compostable (corn-starch) products made from renewable and sustainable resources - bin-liners and carrier bags
EcoGreen products
(http://www.ecogreenproducts.com)
Supplier of corn starch products (but possibly non UK)
Amnesty International web-shop
(http://www.amnestyshop.org.uk)
BioBags (Scotland)
(http://www.biobags.co.uk)
Suppliers of biodegradable and compostable products made from renewable and sustainable resources
Abolish Plastic Bags
(http://www.abolishplasticbags.org.uk)
An umbrella group for many local campaigns with much useful information
Modbury
(http://www.plasticbagfree.com/)
The website of Modbury, the first UK town to become plastic bag free
Modbury in The Guardian
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/may/12/uknews.waste)
World asks town that banned the plastic bag: how can we do it too?(Guardian, May 12 2007)
Hebden Bridge
(http://www.plasticbagfreehebdenbridge.co.uk)
Plastic bag free campaign website of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
Dulwich
(http://www.dulwichgoinggreener.org/index.html)
Bristol and Edinburgh
(http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Choose_to_Reuse_Report_-_June_2006.ca0edd79.pdf)
Findings from a ‘Choose to Reuse’ bags trial in Bristol and Edinburgh.
Scotland
(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/57346/0016900.pdf)
Scottish Executive, 2005: Environment Group Research Report on Proposed Plastic Bag Levy - Extended Impact Assessment
Green Gorilla
(http://www.greengorilla.com)
"Gorilla in the Greenhouse is an action-packed animated web show that inspires kids to take real-world steps towards a healthier environment."
Eco-Schools
(http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/)
How to make schools more stimulating places and reduce the environmental impact of the school
WRAP
(http://www.wrap.org.uk/home_garden_schools_and_communities/working_with_schools/index.html)
WRAP's resources for schools including information and advice from how to get started with recycling to ideas for fun ways of linking recycling and waste into the curriculum
Morsbags
(http://www.morsbags.com)
Sociable "guerrilla bagging" - how to make and distribute cotton bags, alone or in a sociable sewing group.
Alternatives to plastic carrier bags
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2007/apr/02/1?picture=329766191)
Photographer Barbara Laws went out and about in Norwich town centre to find out what people are using instead of plastic carrier bags.
Make something useful out of old bags
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=450744&in_page_id=1879)
A knitting pattern for bags – turn your old plastic bags into a new stronger shopper!
RBK eco-footprint tool
(http://www.kingston.gov.uk/eco_footprint)
Centre for Alternative Technology
(http://www.cat.org.uk/information/catinfo.tmpl?command=search&db=catinfo.db&eqSKUdatarq=InfoSheet_Footprint)
Sainsbury's on long-life bags
(http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/aboutus/policies/recycling_energy_environment/bags.htm)
Marks & Spencer's Plan A
(http://plana.marksandspencer.com/index.php?action=PublicAboutDisplay)
includes policies and pledges on packaging and bags.
Or are some just dragging their heels?
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/26/tesco.supermarkets)
Supermarket chiefs in the news for opposing Government action on plastic bags, especially the threat of a bag tax.
UnLtd
(http://www.unltd.org.uk/)
UnLtd, which provided funding for this campaign, "is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs - people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better. We do this by providing a complete package of funding and support, to help these individuals make their ideas a reality."
