Sage said that even though companies including our main supermarkets, Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs, were phasing out plastic bags, it wasn't enough.
"The question is to ban or not to ban. I have directed officials to look at the best options and report back," she said.
"Significantly reducing waste going to landfill by 2020 is a key goal of the Green Party's confidence and supply agreement with Labour and is a priority for me as Associate Environment Minister.
"While single use plastic bags represent 0.2 per cent of landfill waste, they are an unnecessary pollutant.
"More than 30 countries have legislated to regulate single use plastic bags with bans or levies.
"New Zealand has been a laggard in this space for years, but that's not going to be the case under this Government."