Hawaii's plastic bag ban has been confirmed.

The promotion of reusable paper bags has begun in Hawaii, following the introduction of a ban on plastic carriers.

According to the County of Hawaii's Department of Environmental Management, the new law banning plastic bags came into effect on Thursday, January 17th with the hope that a great deal can be done in order to help the environment.

The county's ordinance states that the purpose of the change "is to reduce or eliminate single use plastic carryout bags", as they can do a great deal of damage to local wildlife.

According to the council, bags can get caught up with fish, contribute to litter piles and also degrade into unsafe chemicals.

The island has one of the most beautiful and scenic landscapes in the world and the new law will work in stages to gradually remove the use of plastic carriers, beginning firstly with a small charge for each one used.

To begin with, this will affect businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, farmer's markets and a host of other retailers, before the ordinance goes up a stage in around a year's time.

On January 17th, 2014, the law will then extend to fully banning single-use plastic bags across the island, with Hawaii County Mayor Bill Kenoi saying it was a major step forward in terms of protecting the environment.

In a letter to council members, he said: "In the end, this bill is not about plastic bags, politics or the Hawaii County City Council.

"It's about protecting our beautiful island."

Indeed, the council's ordinance sheds a good deal of light on how beneficial reusable carriers are, saying: "A high-quality reusable bag has the potential to replace over 600 single-use plastic bags over its lifetime."

There are some exceptions to the rule banning plastics though, including those bags that are used for bulk items such as meat, fish, nuts, grains, fresh produce, small hardware, clothing and prescription drugs.

We offer a wide range of environmentally friendly options from paper bags to our customisable cotton bags. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today to find out more.