Retailers' war on plastic bags

Woolworths has announced it will stop supplying free plastic shopping bags, following in the footsteps of other major retailers.

All Woolworths supermarkets will phase out free plastic shopping bags nationally within a year. (AAP)

Several major retailers have removed or put a charge on single-use plastic bags to encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags:

* Aldi has charged customers 15 cents per bag since arriving in Australia in 2001

* Bunnings introduced a 10 cent levy on disposable plastic bags in 2003

* IKEA stopped using free disposable plastic bags in 2013

* Woolworths, BWS and Dan Murphy's will put a 15 cent levy on plastic bags from June 30, 2018

* BIG W, also owned by Woolworths, will stop supplying lightweight plastic bags and may offer free thicker bags that are less likely to end up in waterways

* Coles supermarkets in Qld, NSW, Victoria and WA will join its stores in Tasmania, SA, ACT and NT in banning single-use bags in the next 12 months.