In July 2017, Woolworths announced its stores would stop handing out the bags in the next 12 months.

The supermarket chain distributes more than 3.2 billion lightweight plastic bags a year, according to Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci, who committed to reducing plastic use in all parts of the supermarket’s supply chain.

Major competitor Coles announced it would also phase out single-use plastic bags just two hours later.

For Woolworths, a total ban will be in place by June 30. While Coles has said its ban would come into effect within the next eight months.

Meanwhile, the Andrews Labor Government is working on the logistics of a statewide ban, with a public submission period closing on January 25.

While it remains unclear when this ban will be implemented, Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said a commencement date would be announced in the first half of this year. 

A small Ballarat business is hoping to make the transition from plastic to reusable bags more practical and fun with handmade products that are sustainable, sturdy and have unique designs. 

Dad Said No founder Amelia Travers started producing the bags last year for her friends and colleagues.

“I found a lot of the green bags you can buy at a supermarket are not aesthetically pleasing and often not very well made,” she said.

“The ultimate win is just seeing them (friends) not even thinking about taking their bags to the supermarket, not thinking about consciously being plastic free.”

Ms Travers hoped to see more sustainable practices become enjoyable habits rather than a mental strain.

“The same goes for any kind of single-use plastic, straws, plastic cutlery, they are not actually that pleasant to use,” she said.

“And if we can start replacing those things in our lives with something that is more pleasant for us it will have a psychological benefit on us, but also the trickle on effect is it’s a massive positive benefit for the environment.

“Particularly the oceans, a huge amount of plastic ends up in the ocean and that’s devastating for marine life.”

Ms Travers said there was a growing movement towards environmentally-friendly alternatives and a lot more people warming up to the idea of reusable products.

“There is more and more awareness, and to a lot of kids, it’s so obvious and so logical,” she said.

“Seeing it make so much sense to little kids, they’re the future, there is so much hope.”