Transition Darebin

Boomerang Bags

Boomerang Bags is an initiative, originating in Queensland and now international, aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags by engaging communities to make reusable ‘Boomerang Bags’ as a fun, sustainable alternative.

Each bag is made by volunteers from the local community using donated second-hand materials, keeping the initiative local and sustainable. Bags can be made at home, with a group of friends or family, in the classroom, as a school or workplace activity, or at a public venue with the wider community.

Regular sewing sessions provide a platform to engage with different demographics of the community in a positive environmental action, raise awareness about current sustainability issues, as well as encouraging community connectedness and socialisation. They also provide a hands-on learning environment, allowing volunteers, community groups and students to gain valuable practical skills. Once made, Boomerang Bags can be used as a means to start conversations, raise awareness and provide an alternative to plastic bags.

More than 200,000 bags have been made and over 60,000 kilos of waste have been diverted from landfill since the initiative started in 2013.

Transition Darebin supports three Boomerang Bags groups. Boomerang Bags Thornbury/Northcote, Boomerang Bags Darebin (running workshops and sewing bees across Darebin), and Boomerang Bags Fairfield. Further north, Boomerang Bags Preston & Thornbury is also an active group, though they’re not associated with Transition Darebin.

If you would like to get involved all of the groups have a presence on Facebook or email transitiondarebin@gmail.com for more information.