Material girl Chantelle is stitching up for the environment

Shoppers in Australia have cottoned on to the Boomerang Bags initiative. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A Rotorua student wants the community to use fewer plastic bags - and she's doing something to help make that easier.

Chantelle Cobby, 18, from Rotorua Girls High School is introducing a not-for-profit initiative called Boomerang Bags to Rotorua.

The programme involves material being collected from the community and sewing bees held to make hand-sewn, reusable bags.

Chantelle says the venture is exciting.

"The aim is to reduce and minimise environmental harm from single-use plastic bags, by using a sustainable alternative."

She says Boomerang Bags started in Australia and is big there.

In Australia, the bags are available at supermarkets for people to use and then return on their next shopping trip - hence the name boomerang.

"It's interactive, raises awareness, engages and connect people, and let's them take positive environmental action," says Chantelle.

The first Rotorua sewing bee will be held tomorrow at the Mokoia Community Centre, and Chantelle encourages anyone to come along regardless of their sewing experience.

She says she hopes the more experienced sewers will help others, and there will be jobs such as the cutting and pining of bags.

All materials have been provided by the community and Chantelle will be providing patterns. She says Drapes by Design on Hinemoa St donated material as well as other local people have provided fabric.

"The initiative relies on the goodwill of the community."

She says quite a few friends will be coming along tomorrow and she has heard of several people whom she doesn't know who have said they will be attending.

"They are people who are passionate about sustainability."

She says the Mokoia Community Centre have been great supporters of the initiative, letting her use their space.

She says she first heard about Boomerang Bags after watching one of Kiwi singer-songwriter Jamie McDell's live social media videos. Jamie is known as a keen environmentalist. Chantelle contacted Jamie through social media and discussed how she could do this.

Chantelle's time involved in Youth Parliament also inspired her to start Boomerang Bags in Rotorua.

Held every three years, Youth Parliament is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to experience parliament as youth MPs and youth press gallery members, with the two-day event in July replicating the real Parliament as close as possible. She was selected by Rotorua MP Todd McClay to represent him.

"I took part in the local government and environmental committee. With the information behind me from the Youth Parliament I thought it would be cool to bring Boomerang Bags here."

She says the bags made will be distributed for free in the community but she is flexible about how it will work in Rotorua and is looking to approach local businesses down the line.

"We're still new, still getting out there."

* The sewing bee will be held tomorrow at the Mokoia Community Centre from 10am to 1pm. For more information, check out the Rotorua Sewing Bee Facebook page.