In March 2009, a GEJI plastic bag survey was conducted by journalism students at the University of Technology, Sydney, Monash University in Melbourne, City University in London and Hong Kong Baptist University. They counted and recorded the number and type of bags carried by more than 7000 consumers as they left stores.
GEJI reporters also observed the practices of checkout cashiers and whether stores were complying with their stated policies, and whether they offered reusable bags or cotton bags as an alternative to plastic bags.