Questions to ask your bag supplier

• What resources are required for their production?

• Are they produced in New Zealand?

Reducing the distance the bag travels from manufacture to the customer can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• If they are imported, how far have they travelled?
• Who makes the bags and are they ethically made?
• What are the bags made from?

• Is it just one material or a blend of materials?

Bags made from a blend of materials or with components made of different materials can be harder to process at the end of their functional life. They may need more resources to produce.

• Are the inks or dyes used (if any) environmentally friendly?

Look for sustainable inks or dyes that are not petroleum-based.

• If made from paper is the paper bleached or un-bleached?

Unbleached paper does not require as many chemicals as bleached paper. It is also more suitable for composting or recycling.

• How many times can the bag be reused?
• Has the manufacturer tested its durability?
• Can the bags be recycled in New Zealand?
• Where can they be recycled?
• If they can’t be recycled, what should my customer do with bags when no longer suitable for reuse?

• If so, how much and where from?
• What is the micron level of the bag — is it 70 microns or above? 
• Can the supplier provide evidence to confirm the micron level of the bag(s)?
• What is the weight and volume of the bag?
• How much weight can the bag safely carry?
• What is the size of the bag?

• Does it contain leaks and spills?