A ban on plastic bags launched five years ago has cut consumption by at least 67 billion bags, saving an equivalent of 6 million tons of petroleum, the National Development and Reform Commission said on May 31.

Since the ban was implemented, use of plastic bags has dropped by more than two thirds, said Li Jing, Deputy Director of the commission's Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Department.

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