If you want to go grocery shopping in California, it’s best to bring your own bag.

That is the implicit message of the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who announced that starting in 2026, plastic bags will be banned at all checkouts in grocery stores. Instead, only paper bags will be offered.

The decision represents a significant step forward in California’s ongoing fight against plastic pollution and expands on previous measures that banned the sale of thinner plastic bags but allowed the sale of thicker bags marketed as reusable and recyclable.

State Senator Catherine Blakespear, a vocal supporter of the law, highlighted the shortcomings of previous regulations and pointed to a disturbing trend: the amount of plastic bags discarded per capita rose from 8 pounds in 2004 to 11 pounds in 2021.

“We are literally choking our planet with plastic waste,” she said, stressing the urgency of addressing the environmental impacts of plastic.

The new law, which simplifies the payment process by offering only paper bags to those who do not bring their own bag, has received widespread approval from environmental organizations.

Oceana, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, called the legislation an important step toward protecting California’s pristine coastlines and diverse marine life.

Christy Leavitt, director of the Oceana Plastics Campaign, said the ban strengthens California’s position as a leader in the fight against the global plastic pollution crisis.

With this proposal, California joins a growing movement. Twelve states have already passed statewide bans on plastic bags, while hundreds of cities in 28 states have implemented similar restrictions.

The origins of California’s plastic bag ban date back to 2014, when lawmakers first passed a statewide ban that was later approved by voters in a 2016 referendum.

Jenn Engstrom, director of the California Public Interest Research Group, said the new law is a fulfillment of the original mandate to eliminate plastic bags.

She said: “Plastic bags pollute our environment and break down into microplastics that contaminate our drinking water and endanger our health. With the governor’s signature, California has finally banned plastic bags at supermarket checkouts once and for all.”

Governor Newsom’s commitment to reducing plastic waste is not new; as mayor of San Francisco, he signed the country’s first plastic bag ban in 2007.

His push for new regulations reflects a broader shift in the United States toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Many view this recent legislation as another critical step by California toward a more sustainable future and a strong example for other states to follow.

This article contains reports from The Associated Press