New Zealand has become the world's first country to expand its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to thin bags, which are typically used to hold fruits or vegetables. BBC News reports that the move, which took effect on July 1, is part of a wider government campaign against single-use plastics.

Most shoppers already bring their own bags to stores after take-home plastic bags were banned in 2019. In recent years, many countries have imposed a fee or ban on plastic bags.

The new move in New Zealand is expected to prevent the usage of 150 million plastic bags per year.

Critics have raised concerns that shoppers may just place groceries in disposable paper bags, which are still available in supermarkets.

Supermarket chain Countdown, which operates more than 185 stores across the country, has started selling reusable polyester mesh bags. The company hopes this will encourage shoppers to use reusable bags for fruits and vegetables.

The New Zealand government has made progress on other initiatives to tackle climate change. In October 2022, it proposed taxing the greenhouse gases produced by farm animals like sheep and cattle. The world's first program of this kind will see farmers paying for agricultural emissions in some form by 2025.
The country's farming industry accounts for about half of its emissions.