As of June 1, the production and distribution of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags will be forbidden in Chinese supermarkets and other stores.

According to the Toronto Star, finance authorities might also consider adjusting taxes to discourage the production and sale of plastic bags and encourage the recycling industry.

The move brings China in line with a growing international trend to cut back use of plastic bags. From Ireland to Uganda and South Africa governments have experimented with heavy taxes, outright bans or eliminating the thinnest bags…Chinese people use up to 3 billion plastic bags a day and the country has to refine 5 million tonnes (37 million barrels) of crude oil every year to make plastics used for packaging.