2017-01-16 GC - Attachment 1 to Item 8 - Plastic Bag Discussion Paper

Definitions
Barrier bag                      Smaller bags without handles used to contain unpackaged perishable food, including fruit,
                                 vegetables, meat and fish.
                                 Other types of bags without handles include bin liners, bread bags etc.

Biodegradable bag                A bag made from natural material such as corn-starch (rather than petrochemical HDPE or LDPE
                                 plastic) which breaks down into organic material and water in the environment.
                                 This includes compostable bags.
                                 Biodegradable bags are different from (but are commonly confused with) bags made of degradable
                                 material. (Refer degradable bag).

Department store plastic bag     A heavier-weight plastic bag designed for single-use, commonly provided by department and
                                 specialty stores such as electronic and clothing retailers. These bags are often made of LDPE plastic.

Compostable bag                  A type of biodegradable bag made of material that has been assessed as compostable in a commercial
                                 composting environment in accordance with Australian Standard ‘AS 4736—2006 Biodegradable
                                 plastics—Biodegradable plastics suitable for composting and other microbial treatment’.

Degradable bag, including oxo-   Petrochemical-based plastic bags designed to break up into fragments when triggered by light (oxo-
degradable or hydro-degradable   degradable) or water (hydro-degradable).
                                 These are different from biodegradable or compostable bags made from natural materials.

Green bag                        A type of reusable bag with handles designed for multiple reuses, often made of woven
                                 polypropylene and commonly sold by supermarkets as a single-use plastic shopping bag alternative.

Macroplastics                    Plastic litter consisting of packaging, fishing debris and other items.

Microplastics                    Tiny plastic fragments, less than five millimetres in size, principally resulting from the breakdown of
                                 plastic litter or macroplastics in the environment.

Plastic HDPE bag                 A plastic bag made of high density polyethylene (HDPE), typically a lightweight single-use plastic
                                 shopping bag.
                                 This includes degradable bags.

Plastic LDPE bag                 A plastic bag made of low density polyethylene (LDPE). Often a single-use heavier-weight department
                                 store plastic bag, although some reusable bags are also made from heavy-duty LDPE.

Retailer                         A business or person that sells goods to a consumer as opposed to selling to another business.

Reusable bag                     A bag with handles that is specifically designed for multiple reuses and is made of washable cloth or
                                 fibre, or other long-wearing material including heavy-duty LDPE plastic.
                                 This includes green bags.

Single-use lightweight           A thin (less than 35 microns) plastic bag with handles that is designed for single-use, principally to
supermarket-style plastic        enable the consumer to transport purchases from the point-of-sale to another destination. Usually
shopping bag                     provided by supermarkets, convenience stores, liquor stores or takeaway food and other retail outlets.
                                 Also commonly referred to as supermarket, singlet, checkout or carry bags.
                                 May be a plastic HDPE, biodegradable or degradable bag.




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