Traders in a Devon market town claim they will be the first in Europe to be entirely free of plastic bags.
Traders in a Devon market town claim they will be the first in Europe to be entirely free of plastic bags.
All 43 traders and shopkeepers in Modbury - from small family traders to the local Co-op - will stop providing plastic bags to customers from 1 May.
All 43 traders and shopkeepers in Modbury - from small family traders to the local Co-op - will stop providing plastic bags to customers from 1 May.
Shoppers will get 100% biodegradable cornstarch bags, recyclable paper bags or reusable cotton and jute bags, supplied by a company from Cornwall.
Shoppers will get 100% biodegradable cornstarch bags, recyclable paper bags or reusable cotton and jute bags, supplied by a company from Cornwall.
The idea was the brainchild of a wildlife camerawoman from the town.
The idea was the brainchild of a wildlife camerawoman from the town.
Rebecca Hosking said when she was filming off Hawaii, she was moved to tears by the impact of plastic rubbish on marine life.
Rebecca Hosking said when she was filming off Hawaii, she was moved to tears by the impact of plastic rubbish on marine life.
To get a group of independently minded people to come together for a single purpose is no mean feat Rod Baker, Bags2Keep
To get a group of independently minded people to come together for a single purpose is no mean feat Rod Baker, Bags2Keep
"It's estimated 100 billion tonnes of plastic are floating round our world's oceans entangling and being ingested by pretty much every single marine creature," she said.
"What we witnessed was just heart breaking and so unnecessary," she said.
"What we witnessed was just heart breaking and so unnecessary."
When the 33-year-old returned home to Modbury, she set out on a mission to turn the town plastic-bag-free and managed to convince each and every trader to get on board.
When the 33-year-old returned home to Modbury, she set out on a mission to turn the town plastic-bag-free and managed to convince each and every trader to get on board.
Rod Baker from Torpoint in Cornwall has supplied nearly 2,000 of the large reusable cotton and jute Bags2Keep to retailers.
Rod Baker from Torpoint in Cornwall has supplied nearly 2,000 of the large reusable cotton and jute Bags2Keep to retailers.
Six-month trial
Six-month trial
The reusable bags are imported from a small factory in Mumbai and printed in the UK using water-based organic ink.
The reusable bags are imported from a small factory in Mumbai and printed in the UK using water-based organic ink.
He was approached by Modbury trader Helen Pickles at a local trade fair and invited to talk to Ms Hosking and the town's other retailers.
He was approached by Modbury trader Helen Pickles at a local trade fair and invited to talk to Ms Hosking and the town's other retailers.
"I was a bit of a doubting Thomas that it would come together," he told BBC News.
"I was a bit of a doubting Thomas that it would come together," he told BBC News.
"But all credit to Rebecca - she was so strong willed and determined.
"But all credit to Rebecca - she was so strong willed and determined.
"To get a group of independently minded people to come together for a single purpose is no mean feat."
"To get a group of independently minded people to come together for a single purpose is no mean feat."
The plastic bag ban will begin on Tuesday, 1 May and continue for a minimum of six months.
The plastic bag ban will begin on Tuesday, 1 May and continue for a minimum of six months.
Do you live or work in the area? What do you think of this idea? Should it last longer than 6 months? Should other towns and cities become plastic bag free? Send us your thoughts using the form below:
Do you live or work in the area? What do you think of this idea? Should it last longer than 6 months? Should other towns and cities become plastic bag free? Send us your thoughts using the form below:
