A plastic bag ban launched five years ago in China has helped the country save six million tonnes of oil, Chinese media reported.

It has also helped cut the use of plastic bags by more than two thirds, equivalent to around 67 billion as more consumers are using reusable cloth-made bags, reports claim.

China banned offering free plastic bags in supermarkets and department stores as well as prevent the production and use of bags thinner than 0.025mm starting from June 1, 2008.

Prior to the ban, an estimated three billion plastic bags were used daily across China, resulting in more than three million tons of waste each year. The nation consumed an estimated five million tons or 37 million barrels of crude oil every year to produce plastics for packaging, figures suggest.