A supermarket chain has found a small environmental move is having a big effect.
For the last month Progressive Enterprises is helping the environment by cutting out plastic bags for items that do not need to be bagged.
An estimated billion plastic bags are used each year to carry groceries from supermarkets and the supermarket chain is finding it can make a difference.
It has just completed its first month of not giving bags to customers buying three items or less although if people still want a bag they will get one.
"We're saving a million bags a week...in the last four weeks...that's one bag for every New Zealander," says Mark Brosnan from Progressive Enterprises.
Customers spoken to by ONE News were supportive of the move and the Green Party says it is one step in helping the environment.
The supermarket move is a small one compared to San Francisco which has totally banned the bag - as has Collingwood in Golden Bay. But no New Zealand city has taken up the challenge yet.
