Waikouaiti resident Ann Charlotte said she and a "small group of local women'' had sewn more than 300 reusable bags made from recycled materials.
She said the group was inspired by 9-year-old local girl Jorja Hay who, earlier in the year, was aghast to discover the detrimental effects of single-use plastic bags and packaging.
Mrs Charlotte said Jorja asked to meet "the King of Dunedin''.
"I explained to her that we didn't have a king, we have a mayor ... I asked her why she wanted to know.''
Jorja wanted to discuss climate change and what Dunedin Mayor David Cull was doing about it.
She was particularly concerned by how plastic bags affected marine life.
Mrs Charlotte said the group started as a result of combining Jorja's interests with their own.
It was a positive follow-on from meeting the mayor.
Mrs Charlotte put "a call out'' to the community asking for help.
She received a "very favourable'' response from people who were willing to give materials to be sewn into bags.
How long it took to make the bags depended on each person as some were faster than others.
"It has been a big investment of people's time,'' Mrs Charlotte said.
The group started in August with about 10 people but had since reduced to about three.
Although there were fewer sewing now, Mrs Charlotte was confident they could keep up with demand.
It was also by coincidence that the Salt and Sugar general store in Karitane had ended the use of plastic bags about the same time the sewing group started.
Store owner Thomas Schroeder said people were "really happy'' with the bags available and there were no single-use bags at his store.
They were now on display at the store for anyone to take should they need them.
Mr Schroeder said he had noticed locals returning with the bags and reusing them.
Although some took a new bag every time they returned, Mr Schroeder believed people would get into the correct habit over time.
