By Edith Loyola 
California has made another stride in the fight against plastic pollution after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law banning the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and retail stores starting in January 2026.
The measure, signed on Sunday, September 22, was approved by the state legislature last month. It aims to eliminate plastic bags of any kind and promote the use of reusable or recyclable bags, according to Senate Bill SB 1053.
According to reports, supermarkets had already been prohibited from offering thin plastic bags, but consumers were still able to purchase thicker plastic bags that were supposedly reusable. However, under the new law, only recycled paper bags will be offered, forcing customers to bring their own bags when shopping.
State Senator Catherine Blakespear, a strong supporter of the measure, argued that the use of plastic bags had not been significantly reduced by previous legislation. “We are literally suffocating our planet with plastic waste,” the senator stated in a declaration made in February. A statewide study showed that plastic bag waste increased from 3.6 to 5 kilograms per person between 2004 and 2021.
For her part, Christy Leavitt, Director of the Plastics Campaign at Oceana, noted, “The ban on single-use plastic bags at supermarket checkout counters cements California’s leadership in the fight against the global plastic pollution crisis.”
Leavitt also emphasized the importance of this measure in protecting marine life and the state’s coastlines, which contribute significantly to California’s ocean economy, valued at $45 billion annually.
Meanwhile, Jenn Engstrom from the organization CALPIRG highlighted that, while Californian voters banned plastic bags nearly a decade ago, the original law needed revision.
“Plastic bags pollute our environment, and the microplastics resulting from their breakdown threaten our health and drinking water,” Engstrom stated in a press release.
According to Environment California, the updated law will have a positive impact on marine wildlife. Laura Deehan from the organization noted that the new regulation will protect sea turtles, birds, and other wildlife along California’s coastlines.
However, the plastics industry expressed its dissatisfaction with the law through the Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance, which represents the sector. They argued that the measure could have unintended consequences, stating that the ban “will eliminate the use of 183 million pounds of recycled content in California each year, increase the carbon footprint, and significantly raise costs for working families.”