Sustainable Thornbury's Plastic Bag-Less Thornbury Campaign

Did you know the world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year? That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. But we only use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing of it. It then lasts in the environment for decades.

Sustainable Thornbury is asking everyone to look at what we, in Thornbury, can do to reduce the number of plastic bags.

Much of today’s plastic packaging could be eliminated without any problem. We take a plastic carrier out of habit rather than because we really need one. As shoppers, are we prepared to say “no”? Even more, are we prepared not to be offered a bag unless we specifically need one?

Only thirty years ago plastic carriers didn’t exist and shoppers didn't expect, or get, unnecessary packaging – they carried their own bag.

The Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce got together with Sustainable Thornbury to develop the first ever town bag. It is made from sustainable jute and is a Fairtrade product. The bag went on sale for the first time at the launch of Sustainable Thornbury's campaign to get people to carry their own bag and reduce plastic bag use. Now it is on sale at several shops in the town and at the Town Hall.

At the launch event, Sustainable Thornbury gave away over 70 reusable bags in exchange for the plastic bags recovered in the amnesty, and sold town bags as well.

The logo on the bag was designed by Anna Head a pupil at Castle School and refined by a professional designer (Damon Mahoney, Station Design) working with the school.

On behalf of Sustainable Thornbury, the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor and members of the Town Council presented students and the designer with their personal copies of the bag as a thank you for their work for the town.

Sustainable Thornbury recognises that eliminating unnecessary plastic is a joint effort by shoppers and traders. Our campaign is aimed equally at changing the expectations of shoppers and helping traders to meet them. You can do your bit by supporting those traders that are meeting the challenge. Watch for our window stickers to tell you who they are. Especially you can carry a shopping bag with you so that you can say ‘no’ to plastic.

Together, we can achieve a better environment.

For more information about Sustainable Thornbury’s Plastic Bag Campaign or to ask for more assistance in moving away from plastic packaging please ring 01454 416778 or email

Membership of Sustainable Thornbury is free and open to anyone living or working in Thornbury and surrounding villages. If you would like to join, please email