The biggest backer of reusable bags accuses supermarkets of profiteering from their sales.THEY were meant to save us from the plague of plastic bags. But reusable ''green'' bags are being oversold and creating a new proliferation problem, according to Ian Kiernan, who helped devise the environmental anti-plastic campaign.
Coles and Woolworths are profiteering from the popularity of so-called eco-friendly bags, the Clean Up Australia Day founder said. He accused the supermarket chains, which together have sold almost 20 million reusable bags, of ''trading off the green potential" of the now ubiquitous products rather than encouraging shoppers to cut consumption.
Green bags, which sell in supermarkets for up to $2.99, are typically made from non-woven polypropylene, a non-biodegradable byproduct of oil refining.
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