The life cycle of plastic bags is extremely short. According to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Environment in 2018, 16.4% of respondents throw them away after first use. Subsequently, they turn into waste that pollutes the environment. When disposed of in places that are not intended for this purpose – such as forests – they also become a threat to animal life and health.

We are glad that more and more Poles choose reusable bags. However, we would like to make eco-bags an integral part of everyday shopping for each and every one of us, because such bags are durable and simply last longer. By carrying out campaigns like the one in Otwock today, we encourage Poles to take care of the environment together and limit the use of plastic bags, Minister Henryk Kowalczyk emphasised.

As of the 1st of January 2018, lightweight plastic bags offered at checkout tills are covered by the so-called recycling levy. Studies show that nearly two-thirds of Poles are discouraged from purchasing the bags by their current cost.

The recycling levy for lightweight plastic bags introduced last year was intended to change our shopping habits and at make us consider whether we really need plastic bags every time, said Minister Kowalczyk. Today we can see that the introduction of the levy was met with positive reactions of the society, with more and more people coming to stores with their own eco-bags, he added.

In addition to distributing eco-bags, the top officials of the Ministry of Environment also drew attention to the problem of food wastage. Studies of ecological awareness of Poles show that the three most frequently indicated causes of food wastage in households include purchasing excessive quantities of food products. The holiday season is often when people buy more food than they actually need.

Food wastage is not only a social and economic problem, but also an environmental one. Therefore, when shopping before holidays, let us remember not to go overboard with food, so that it does not become waste later on. And when shopping, not only for holidays, let us always remember to use reusable bags, Vice-Minister Sławomir Mazurek added.