Flags to Bags
What is Flags to Bags?
Flags to Bags (F2B) is a sustainability project that repurposes retired city gateway flags (the big promotional flags that hang beside main roads entering the municipality) into reusable bags.
The initiative, delivered in partnership with community, diverts material waste from landfill, and promotes circular living.
Flags to Bags for Food Relief is an extension of the F2B initiative where the community comes together to repurpose the flags into reusable bags for donation to local food relief programs.
How to participate
Attend a session
Upcoming sessions
Sew a bag at home
Pick up a kit to sew at home from Braybrook Community Centre or Footscray Library. Each kit contains fabric to make two bags, so you can keep one and donate one!
Host an event
Please contact communitydevelopment@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au to organise your own Flags to Bags session.
History
Plastic Free July 2025
The Flags to Bags initiative was hatched during a Plastic Free July Maribyrnong 2025 brainstorming session, attended by Council staff and local community leaders. The suggestion was made by a local leader who had previously wondered what happens to the flags once Council is finished with them.
During Plastic Free July, Council hosted fully booked sewing workshops where community members, many new to sewing, transformed the colourful fabric into useful carry bags. During the workshops, participants gathered to learn sewing skills, share stories, and explore ways to reduce single-use plastics.
Participants suggested expanding the initiative to include a ‘pay it forward’ approach, where community members will make bags to donate to local community members and groups who need them.
Conference Bags for Regenerating Communities Conference
In July 2025, the Footscray African Women’s Sewing Group was commissioned to sew 130 conference bags for the Regenerating Communities: Community Development Conference hosted at Borderlands in Footscray, October 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a city gateway flag?
Council's city gateway flags are the large flags that fly beside some main roads as you enter the Maribyrnong municipality. The flags are usually promoting festivals, events, or local initiatives.
Where do F2B for Food Relief bags get donated?
Duke Street Community Food Relief Market
This service supports an average of 110 community members and their families every week, distributing over 200,000kg of food and 12,000 frozen meals per year.
The program creates a dignified and non-judgemental approach to food relief by facilitating a market style service including fresh produce, pantry items and frozen meals.
Through this service the community House also provides information, services, and referral to thousands of community members every year.
Please visit Duke Street Community House's website for further information.
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