“I’m not a plastic bag” designer gets MBE

Eco-conscious fashion designer, Anya Hindmarch, has been award an MBE in the Queen’s New Year honours list for her environmentally friendly bag design.

The “I’m not a plastic bag” re-usable carrier bag became an overnight global fashion icon, with over 80,000 sold on the day it was released.

As well as reducing plastic carrier bag usage, the “I’m not a plastic bag” message emblazoned across the bag was designed to raise environmental awareness.

Ms Hindmarsh said the bag’s success showed how fashion could be used to ‘reach and influence’ people around the world.

She added that being awarded an MBE was a ‘real honour’ that made her proud to be British.

In Britain, over 8 billion plastic carrier bags are used every year, with each bag taking up to 1,000 years to break down in landfill.

Even after a plastic bag has broken down, it releases toxic chemicals into the surrounding soil and water systems.

Plastic bag production is also harmful to the environment.

Plastic bags are made using non-renewable petroleum, and the toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing process release pollution into the atmosphere.