In Italy closed the Plastic Bag Free Week

by Eleonora Anello

140 Municipalities, 14 Provinces, 2,500 retail outlets, associations, schools and companies have joined for a week, from 17 to 24 April 2010, during the Settimana Nazionale “Porta la Sporta” (National Week "Take Sport"), to say stop to the use disposable bags, especially in plastic.

As we have stated many times, the indiscriminate use of shoppers by consumers has become a matter of no small importance to the environment to be considered as a practice to overcome, a symbol of consumerism no longer current.

The 40,000 reusable bags donated in this edition, sponsored by the Associazione dei Comuni Virtuosi, WWF, Italia Nostra, FAI and Adiconsum, are evidence of the high level achieved and the will of the organizers scattered throughout the territory to ensure that a simple habit can become the "first" act of environmental awareness, tread a path of virtuous conduct more environmentally friendly.

Yet, the European Directive EN13432 prohibits the production and marketing of non-biodegradable bags. «The circular is not pregnant nor obligation, which allows each member state to implement at its own pace - said Roberto Cavallo, Aica President, in an interview with “La radio ne parla” on Radio Uno, on April 22th - While in France the standard is already a reality, and we can realize it when we go to the French chains, in Italy we are waiting for the government to decide. At the moment, everything has been delayed by a year. Unless surprises, we talk about January 2011. Of course, even in a lack legislative situation, no one prevents the individual citizen to change habits and to anticipate the length of time of the bureaucratic machine».

The success of the campaign has generated enthusiasm and satisfaction in the organizers: «As organizing committee, we are extremely pleased with the accessions received and especially the enthusiastic feedback, as to believe that there is a case for continuing with new initiatives and synergies that will see more involvement, not only local administrations, but also retail and other businesses to ensure that even donated all the bags this week would not remain in the drawers» said Silvia Ricci, coordinator of the Porta la Sporta campaign.

Great success for the website www.portalasporta.it that, during the Week, scored hits record. The site, which is enriched with the contribution of people who use them, provide advice, materials and tools to organize environmental communication actions and campaigns at minimal cost. Valuable tool for the exchange of experiences and the tale of "good practices", is an effective platform for comparison between actors who share goals and experiences.