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A Moruya student's art is saving marine life, one hessian bag at a time.
From this week, Coles shoppers in Batemans Bay have a stylish and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags available at the checkouts – thanks to students such as Ella Burke, 16.
Ella, of Moruya High School, is one of 14 students who created artworks for seven new reusable bags.
A portion of sales will be donated to Coles’ community partners – Clean Up Australia, Little Athletics Australia, SecondBite and Guide Dogs Australia. The range includes a shoulder bag, a chiller bag, a tote and a jute bag.
Ella designed a fish motif featured on $1 tote bags, and Guide Dogs Australia will gain 10 cents from each bag sold.
The bags can be reused, but at the end of their lives, can be recycled at REDcycle bins at the supermarket.
Coles received more than 1,000 bag design entries from primary and secondary school students across Australia and each of the 14 winners received a $5,000 grant for their school to spend on an environmental or sustainability project.
Other winners were:
Emily Fry - 11 years old, Aspect Northern Rivers School - Emily’s abstract flower design will feature on $2 large shoulder bags, which will help raise funds for SecondBite – with 25 cents from each bag being directed to the charity.
Huiling Dong - 15 years old, Cumberland High School - Huiling’s rainbow coloured design will feature on $1 tote bags, which will help raise funds for Guide Dogs Australia – with 10 cents from each bag being directed to the charity.
Coles State General Manager Orlando Rodriguez said; “There’s no doubt that the phasing out of single use plastic bags will be a big transition for customers. However, we think that customers are willing to give up the plastic bag and use reusable bags for the sake of the environment. We have been running trials in some stores and the response has been positive.”
“If customers forget to bring their own reusable bags, Coles will have a range of options. The Coles Better Bag which is made from 80% recycled material and is bigger, thicker and more durable than single use plastic bags. Better Bags can be used multiple times and when customers have finished with the Better Bag, it can be recycled through the REDcycle bins available at all Coles supermarkets. Better Bags cost 15c each.”