Boomerang Bags sewing a sustainable future

A NEW Bellarine Peninsula branch of Boomerang Bags is helping locals cut plastic waste by providing free, reusable shopping bags hand-made by volunteers.

Founder of the new branch, Nicala Barnes said she hopes the initiative will help protect the local area.

“We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the state… and Boomerang Bags is doing something to help keep the communities sustainable and beautiful,” she said.

Established on the East Coast of Australia in 2013, Boomerang Bags now operates around the globe, aiming to reduce worldwide plastic waste.

The Bellarine Peninsula branch is one of more than 1100 communities worldwide who have collectively created more than 500 thousand bags.

Whilst setting up the branch, Ms Barnes discovered an additional sustainability benefit of the Boomerang Bags was the reduction of fabric waste.

With more than 300,000 tonnes of textiles sent to landfill in Australia each year, according to The Australia Institute, Ms Barnes said it has been an unexpected benefit to the group.

In her initial Facebook posts to gauge volunteer and fabric donation interest, she said she was inundated with fabric donation offers.

“It’s good but bad,” she said, “that there is so much fabric out in the community that people are willing to donate.”

“But if we didn’t have the group… that fabric would probably just go to landfill.”

Ms Barnes said it has been a great opportunity for the creative group of volunteers, some of whom are new to the community.

“They’re able to do their craft and give back to their community.”

She said she would like to see a future where the Boomerang Bags are well known, and a positive resource for the whole community.

“Whether you’re donating, sewing, or using, you’re making some contribution to helping reduce waste… I feel like that’s why [Boomerang Bags] has been such a success.”

The volunteers presently sew from home, and Ms Barnes hoped this will allow more volunteers to get involved, as they can sew around their own schedules.

“The more the merrier,” she said.

To volunteer, or for fabric donations, Boomerang Bags Bellarine Peninsula can be contacted on social media at @boomerangbagsbellarine.