The 'Respect the Sea and be Plastic Free' initiative was a successful 2017 plan by Cronulla South Public School to introduce reusable bags within the school community.
The initiative has now spread and been adopted by eight other Sutherland Shire schools.
The schools currently adopting this year's bags are Cronulla South, Grays Point, Caringbah, Lilli Pilli, Miranda, Tharawal, Woronora River and Laguna Street.
The designs of the bags for sale by each school encompasses a universal logo, which was created by 11-year-old Grays Point student Luka Ford.
Luka won a local design competition, which attracted more than 200 entries, and was judged by Cronulla MP Mark Speakman, shire councillor Michael Forshaw, Sharks player Scott Sorensen and the Leader's John Veage.
On the alternate side of the bag is each school's sponsors.
Students from each school engaged local members of the community by seeking sponsorship and informing businesses on how they can help make schools more sustainable.
Luka, who had previously lived on Lord Howe Island for a year, designed a swimming blue/green turtle with its shell carrying the logo 'Respect the sea and be plastic free'.
"I liked the idea that a turtle swims free in the oceanand I don't like how they are dying because they think plastic is food," Luka said.
The bags are a huge success, highlighted by the fact that more than 50 Sutherland Shire businesses have sponsored schools in their quest to help make the Sutherland Shire plastic free.
There are nearly 3000 reusable bags for sale that are currently circulating at the schools and the local community - each one a symbol of the power of student voice and leadership.
The bags are available at all of the involved schools, with all proceeds raised going back into each school's sustainability initiatives.
This project was originally driven by students and highlights the power of their combined voice. Every aspect of this project has been delivered by the determination of students to make a difference in their local communities.
