As part of the international Plastic-Free July Campaign, Northland group Plastic-Free Whangarei has introduced vegetable and fruit bags made from net curtain cut-offs.
One of the five organisers, Tammy Fromont, said apart from the bags not being plastic, the appeal is that they are see-through and logo-free. In addition the group has been offering reusable plastic bags to visitors at the Whangarei Growers Market.
"What we have started is gaining momentum and finding favour with people who are really pleased to be involved. We want to keep it growing and get even more people interested in using reusable bags so we've come up with a new way of giving them a bag which doesn't cost the earth," she said.
Countdown Regent supermarket in Whangarei joined in the campaign by offering smaller bags with 25 per cent less plastic.
Andrew Porter, from the Four Square store in Russell, said the many Europeans who visit the Bay of Islands over summer, and those who live there full time, expect to be charged for using plastic and are surprised when they are not in New Zealand.