By a 36-4 tally, the Massachusetts state Senate voted late Wednesday in favor of a bill that would place statewide prohibitions on single-use plastic bags.

Massachusetts’ state House is expected to vote on the bill next year. Should it ultimately become law, promotional product distributors that sell in the Bay State could stand to benefit. They can step in to sell reusable alternatives, such as tote bags, which businesses and other organizations can brand – a likely worthwhile investment as people could be using the bags frequently given the anticipated dearth of plastic options.

Under the bill, stores in the Bay State would be barred from distributing single-use plastic bags. There would be limited exceptions: The ban would not apply to plastic bags used to carry dry cleaning, certain food like produce and meats, and prescription medications. The bill also mandates that customers would have to pay a 10-cent fee for recyclable or reusable bags.

Worcester, MA’s Telegram & Gazette newspaper reported that 120 communities in Massachusetts already have regulations that clamp down on single-use plastic bags. The statewide bill would provide for a uniform approach on the issue, proponents say.

“Something of this nature is needed,” Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury, told the Telegram & Gazette. “Right now we have a patchwork of different towns and communities where some are passing it, and everyone has different aspects of their law.”

Mass. Senate votes in favor of ban on plastic bags https://t.co/4eMZw0ault @anissagardizy8 https://t.co/4yoQEpLycE

— Telegram & Gazette (@telegramdotcom) November 21, 2019

Some promo distributors have told Counselor that the local bans in Massachusetts towns have already seeded opportunities for sales of branded reusable bags. More opportunity could follow with a statewide law. “It’s a true trend. I’m seeing it firsthand here … where some grocers have taken it system-wide (to do) no more plastic,” said Javier Melendez, an account executive at Massachusetts-based promo distributor All Star Incentive Marketing (asi/117110). Melendez elaborated on the burgeoning opportunity in a tweet:

The bigger trend that I foresee happening will be packable re-usable bags. No one wants to have 5-10 bags just hanging around in their car flying around, but 5-10 small packables that extend to grocery size, and fit in a seat back pocket - that would work. Just a thought.

— Javier (@JavierSolutions) October 23, 2019

In recent years, momentum behind bans on single-use plastic bags has been growing at the local and statewide levels. Advocates want the bags outlawed because, they say, the disposables cause pollution and litter, and are a threat to wildlife, especially aquatic life when they end up in rivers, streams and oceans. Statewide prohibitions on single-use plastic bags exist in Vermont, Maine, California, New York and Hawaii.

Leaders in Philadelphia, the United States’ sixth-largest city by population, have been considering implementing a plastic bag ban. The City Council of Baltimore, which has a population of more than 600,000, just adopted plastic bag banning legislation this week.

Product Hub
Find the latest in quality products, must-know trends and fresh ideas for upcoming end-buyer campaigns.