By MEGAN OGLE
THE Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) says small business will be impacted by a ban on single-use bags and has called for more consultation with the business community.
CCIQ Director of Advocacy Nick Behrens said CCIQ acknowledged the management of single-use plastic bags in Queensland is an important environmental issue but said CCIQ would not support the implementation of policy that penalised or imposed significant operational restrictions for small businesses.
“The Queensland business community is strongly committed to balancing environmental sustainability with economic prosperity and recognise the vital role in minimising the impact on the environment,” he said.
“Despite a strong desire to do so, cost and expertise continue to represent the greatest barriers for participation in environmental management and sustainability programs.”
“Complexity and lack of experience in waste management are also significant prohibiting factors for Queensland small businesses.”
Noosa Council candidate and advocate for Noosa’s Ban the Bag campaign Aaron White said he did not agree with the CCIQ and said they are looking at this “the wrong way”.
“Banning the bag or putting a surcharge on single use plastic bags won’t cost business anything, as proven in other countries. It just changes consumer behaviour,” Mr White said.
“I’m not sure how many images of strangled sea birds, choked turtles and beaches full of rubbish we have to see before we comprehend our over-use of oil-based plastic is simply irresponsible.”
Noosa Community Biosphere Association (NCBA) vice president John Wood said small businesses were actually better off financially by not supplying free plastic bags to shoppers and instead should use this as an opportunity to utilise branded reusable bags.
“From a business economics perspective not only do businesses incur the costs of giving customers plastic shopping bags, there is the added costs to council waste management,” Mr Wood said.
“Essentially a business can create a marketing tool instead of incurring a supplies cost if they utilise reusable bags.”
“They see the value-added marketing, sales and branding propositions for their businesses.”
“Businesses have the ability to increase sales by selling reusable shopping bags and also create upselling incentives.”
Mr Wood urged local business to make a sustainable change to their plastic bag usage by swapping over to 100 per cent biodegradable bags, considering charging for plastic bags, offering a small discount for customers who bring their own bags or selling branded reusable bags.
Mr White is holding a forum on marine plastic pollution with guest speakers Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters and Senator Peter Whish-Wilson on 9 March at The J, 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads. For more information go to noosagreens.org.
