Our story was born out of frustration and a dream.

The Covid 19 pandemic shone a light on the many ills plaguing humanity and the environment. While it is impossible to fix all of society’s deficiencies at the same time, there is the urgency to begin somewhere.

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A group of five like-minded individuals in Melbourne banded together to form and incorporate ‘Bags for Earth & Science Incorporated’. This is a grassroots movement with dual interconnected purposes, the environment and medical science (Cancer research).

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The environment was being detrimentally impacted by the excesses of mankind, particularly the use of plastic bags in everyday life. During the Covid 19 pandemic, particularly during the lockdown periods, there was an increase in use of plastic bags and other plastic waste used in fast food. Much of the plastic waste would eventually make its way to our waterways, rivers and oceans, poisoning life within them. Getting rid of plastic shopping bags would go a long way to repairing some of the damage already caused.

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The Covid pandemic also had a negative impact on research, particularly that undertaken by universities. Much of the research was being funded by the full fee-paying overseas students. The pandemic had shut the door on the students, leaving the universities reliant on public government funding or private donations. The pandemic and lockdowns had all but drained public funds, who struggled to maintain the health system and prevent a total collapse.

 

Recognizing that the funding needs would always be an issue for most research institutions, and that plastic bag use required a drastic change in people’s habits, the group of Five Founding Committee members established a mission with a dual purpose:

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• The first, to eradicate the use of all plastic bags and replace with environmentally friendly tote bags made from natural fabrics (cotton, canvas, hessian and jute), and

• The second, to raise funds in perpetuity for science (medical research) using tote bags with the ‘Bags for Earth & Science Inc’ logo, and any other fundraising means.