Old doona covers, tshirts or tea towels – Just about anything can become a reusable shopping bag and a new community-led group can show you how.
It was like the stars aligned for the launch of the Ripley Boomerang Bags group.
The grassroots Boomerang Bags initiative – started by two Byron Bay women and now a global movement – caught the attention of Sekisui House Community Development Officer Sarah Hardie some time ago.
“I had seen the tangible impacts these groups were having in communities,” she said.
The idea that community members come together to create the boomerang bags as an alternative to plastic bags appealed to Sarah. The process of creating the bags, from sourcing donated or recycled material to sewing as a group, was a perfect activity to make new connections and new friendships while contributing to sustainable practice.
In the past month it all came together. Queensland’s plastic bag ban came into effect, and the newly opened Ripley Town Centre had space for community activities. And Sarah heard about Amber Coates from local business Sewing with Amber – who was just the “community champion” Sarah had been searching for.
The result is Ripley Boomerang Bags group. Their first ever sewing bee will be at Eco Shot Cafe on August 8. And it’s open to everyone, regardless of sewing ability. Eco Shot Cafe is also supporting the initiative as a collection point for donated material.
Making reusable bags, especially from recycled fabric, is great for the environment and encourages sustainable habits – but for Sarah, Boomerang Bags offers so much more.
“It’s teaching (people) a different form of altruism. Volunteering has changed now, the way we can actually engage and participate in our community could be something as little as donating material, or it could be coming along to a Ripley Boomerang Bags sewing night with Amber and the community and being a part of something that makes a real change to the environment,” she said.
“Amber has donated her time and skills, and we are fortunate to have people in our community who are willing to contribute in this way,” she said.
Amber Coates has been familiar with a sewing machine since she was eight years old, and is already gathering spare fabric and supplies to create the first reusable bags.
She said she expected the Ripley Boomerang Bags group would grow as word gets out about the initiative.
Amber said one person without much sewing know-how could make a bag in an hour, or a person with experience could do it in perhaps half an hour.
“But as a collective you could do four bags in an hour,” she said.
Billion plastic bags were ending up in Queensland's environment each year. Their weight was equal to 96 small cars
Video: Boomerang Bag co-founder Jordyn de Boer talks about the grassroots movement that has now gone global.
Join Ripley Boomerang Bags group on Facebook to find more information and events.
Sustainability is a key part of Ripley Town Centre.
The centre, which has been operational since May 2018, includes features such as solar panels that generate 75 per cent of the buildings electricity and 24,000L in rainwater tank capacity to supply water for gardens and bathrooms.
Sustainable design is incorporated throughout the building, with everything from energy efficient glazing to natural ventilation.
Ripley Town Centre is set to be involved in Sustainable Ipswich Week (August 6-12). See the Ripley Town Centre Facebook page for details.
Sustainable Ipswich Week (August 6-12) is an opportunity for the community to be involved in promoting and celebrating sustainability and our environment.
Participate in the range of activities and events throughout the week and learn valuable information on ways in which we can all live more sustainably now and into the future.
By working together we can protect and enhance our environment and its liveability for current and future generations.
