International Plastic Bag Free Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is not affiliated with any official organisers of International Plastic Bag Free Day. It is a global awareness initiative celebrated for environmental education. For general information, please refer to reputable online sources.

Friday 3rd July 2026

Understanding International Plastic Bag Free Day in EYFS & KS1

International Plastic Bag Free Day, observed annually on July 3rd, is a fantastic opportunity to introduce young children to important environmental concepts. It's a day dedicated to raising awareness about the negative impact of single-use plastic bags on our planet and encouraging us all to find reusable alternatives.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a very tangible way to discuss caring for our Earth. It helps children understand that their actions, even small ones, can make a big difference. It’s about fostering a sense of responsibility for the environment and encouraging sustainable habits from a young age. This day offers great planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activity invitations that really resonate with young minds.

Why Is Teaching About Plastic Waste Valuable for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about plastic waste and environmental care into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for their holistic development and for shaping them into environmentally conscious citizens. During their early years, children are highly receptive to new ideas and form habits that can last a lifetime.

• Environmental Stewardship: It introduces the concept of looking after our planet, which is vital for the future. Understanding why we reduce, reuse, and recycle instils a sense of responsibility.

• Understanding Impact: Children begin to grasp that plastic pollution harms animals, especially marine life, and affects their habitats. This fosters empathy and a desire to protect the natural world.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Encouraging children to think about alternatives to plastic bags (like reusable ones) promotes creative thinking and simple problem-solving.

• Making Healthy Choices: Discussing single-use items can lead to broader conversations about conscious consumption and making choices that benefit both people and the planet.

• Community and Global Awareness: It helps children understand that environmental issues are global, connecting their local actions to a bigger picture.

• Practical Habits: It encourages practical habits like remembering reusable bags, which are simple yet powerful actions that contribute to a healthier environment.

Engaging Activities for International Plastic Bag Free Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Making International Plastic Bag Free Day a practical and inspiring learning experience is easy with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on understanding the problem and discovering creative solutions! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the printable resources we have available.

Here's some inspiration for bringing the message of going plastic bag-free into your setting. The following ideas may be adapted for various EYFS and KS1 settings. In EYFS, these ideas are best viewed as invitations to explore, investigate and engage in meaningful play rather than activities every child is expected to complete. Practitioners may choose to follow children's interests. In KS1, some ideas may also be used within more structured learning opportunities where appropriate.

Printable resources to support the following ideas may be found further down this page.

(Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Plastic Bag Sorting & Discussion: Collect a variety of plastic bags (different types, colours, conditions). Discuss where they come from (shops) and where they go (bin, possibly oceans). Talk about why they're not good for animals and the Earth. This can lead into a discussion supported by our 'Don't Use Plastic Bags!' Poster' and 'Don't Use Plastic Bags!' Colouring Poster'.

• Design a Bag for Life: Our 'Design a Bag for Life' resource offers a template that the children can create with. Use in conjunction with discussions about ‘Bags for life’.

• "Ocean Clean-Up" Sensory Bin: Create a sensory bin filled with blue shredded paper or fabric (to represent water) and hide various "litter" items like small plastic pieces, bottle tops, and toy sea animals. Children use tongs or scoops to "clean up" the ocean, rescuing the animals. Discuss the harm plastic causes, visually reinforced by our 'Keep Plastic Out of the Oceans! - Posters' and 'Keep Plastic Out of the Oceans! - Posters (Colouring)'.

• Story Time: Environmental Heroes: Read stories about environmental care, recycling, or animals affected by pollution. Afterwards, discuss how the children can be "Earth heroes" by making good choices, like not using plastic bags.

• Recycling Station Fun: Set up a mini-recycling station in your setting. Provide different bins for paper, plastic, and food waste. Children can sort collected items, learning what goes where. This is a practical activity for early years children to understand waste management.

• Our Earth, Our Home: Use our 'Earth - Our Home! Multimat - Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Crafts' to encourage creative expression about their world and how to protect it. Our 'Earth Upper & Lower Case Alphabet Puzzle Game' can also tie into literacy learning around environmental words.

• Nature Walk with a Purpose: Take a short walk around your outdoor space or local park. Look for any litter, especially plastic. Discuss how it got there and what impact it has. This helps children connect the abstract idea of "pollution" to their immediate environment. (Remember to use gloves if collecting any litter.)

• Plastic Bag Alternatives Display: Show children examples of different reusable bags: canvas bags, string bags, foldable shopping bags. Discuss how these are better than single-use plastic.

These activities offer great inspiration for making International Plastic Bag Free Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘International Plastic Bag Free Day’

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for July

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to International Plastic Bag Free Day. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any official organisers of International Plastic Bag Free Day, as it is a globally recognised awareness initiative. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this day. For general information, please refer to reputable online sources.