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Kenya's government banned plastic bags in August 2017. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3LENVPYX3JRNLA56E4IAOH6BI.jpg?smart=true&auth=539717edda4432be621be5f268f97eb4ec0a6a6734ab32d18536b9451c08586b&width=400&height=225)
Plastic bags have been banned in France since July 2016. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4YGOHTHRZT7WMB2HN7I7IGZHGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a13439a0a37ec3c41a8ea89fc1f401e7b2e2eefd4294f133b3a7bb4bdc69251e&width=400&height=225)
Ukraine banned plastic bags in December 2021. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZQG4O5BTVAZLDZI3RLFUO4KLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cbdd22b170cb2bcaa248deb6848b4256156c849875b071c0507aafdc42a15708&width=400&height=225)
Bangladesh was one of the first countries to ban them, back in 2002. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34D6VGPSPRJXBOAOS4SI7W4KIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6bdb52cab76ca05f382ba688989dda31c8bb8dc37a0dccf964ef94f318cc4766&width=400&height=225)
Plastic bags have been banned in Austria since 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/76AFXY4FTPTRLAPUUDJCI4GP4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a67854446b5ea7dc09c2fbde3b4dd0178f3d34ce716e8b2aeb4c0789ac22728&width=400&height=225)
Thailand made the decision to ban plastic bags in 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUNAWNKXNAOTT4NBKIQQ23CQ74.jpg?smart=true&auth=af77c2359ee63aa7f961fb8418fbd0529ef03c19f76c9bac5ad52623a3587a28&width=400&height=225)
The Maldives banned them in June 2021.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FVPBBAFKIGMECMCPO5R6LTWVOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4863524bb1369799dff0e90c61ad041de67d634a921c53cbe937ed2bdc45d9fd&width=400&height=225)
Kenya's government banned plastic bags in August 2017. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3LENVPYX3JRNLA56E4IAOH6BI.jpg?smart=true&auth=539717edda4432be621be5f268f97eb4ec0a6a6734ab32d18536b9451c08586b&width=400&height=225)
Plastic bags have been banned in France since July 2016. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4YGOHTHRZT7WMB2HN7I7IGZHGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a13439a0a37ec3c41a8ea89fc1f401e7b2e2eefd4294f133b3a7bb4bdc69251e&width=400&height=225)
Ukraine banned plastic bags in December 2021. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZQG4O5BTVAZLDZI3RLFUO4KLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cbdd22b170cb2bcaa248deb6848b4256156c849875b071c0507aafdc42a15708&width=400&height=225)
Bangladesh was one of the first countries to ban them, back in 2002. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34D6VGPSPRJXBOAOS4SI7W4KIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6bdb52cab76ca05f382ba688989dda31c8bb8dc37a0dccf964ef94f318cc4766&width=400&height=225)
Plastic bags have been banned in Austria since 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/76AFXY4FTPTRLAPUUDJCI4GP4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a67854446b5ea7dc09c2fbde3b4dd0178f3d34ce716e8b2aeb4c0789ac22728&width=400&height=225)
Thailand made the decision to ban plastic bags in 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUNAWNKXNAOTT4NBKIQQ23CQ74.jpg?smart=true&auth=af77c2359ee63aa7f961fb8418fbd0529ef03c19f76c9bac5ad52623a3587a28&width=400&height=225)
The Maldives banned them in June 2021.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FVPBBAFKIGMECMCPO5R6LTWVOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4863524bb1369799dff0e90c61ad041de67d634a921c53cbe937ed2bdc45d9fd&width=400&height=225)
Kenya's government banned plastic bags in August 2017. AP
Abu Dhabi to ban single-use plastic bags from June 1
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi will also phase out single-use styrofoam cups, plates and food containers by 2024
![Neil Halligan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9788586c-d714-4739-883a-faccdf34de85.png?smart=true&auth=e888c745be1f4f071de8aa9cbc90c5e4930b057736f65ee79da808bac1341543&width=70&height=70)
Neil Halligan
06 April, 2022
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