It’s all very well taking plastic bags out of circulation, but the paper bag alternative is not necessarily the best option, as it seems. Not when You get started on the whole life cycle maths. Don’t get started on the waste! Enter SammyBags, a range of flat bags, coffee pouches, stand-up pouches and sandwich wraps made of paper that can be wiped, washed and reused again and again – it’s even machine washable, just like the paper label patch on your Levi’s. The venture was launched a couple of years ago by Christchurch espresso bar owner David Durrant and inspired by one of his customers who always brings a reusable paper bag to take her daily scone. Durrant did a bit of sleuthing and tracked down a supplier of washable craft paper, making his first lot of bags during the initial Covid lockdown. Today, SammyBags are available online and are also stocked by coffee roasters, cafés, organics stores and homewares stores – zero waste packaging is the future!