Woolworths are keeping the environment in mind, with Western Australia the first to follow the eco-future by removing all plastic bags from their stores. Source: Woolworths
Supermarket retailing giant Woolworths has announced a permanent removal of their 15-cent plastic shopping bags, gradually phasing them out over the next year.
Doing so will reportedly remove over 9000 tonnes of plastic from Australia’s pollution waste in annual circulation.
The 45-cent reusable bags will disappear from a chain of over 1000 stores by June 2023, with subsidiary Big W to do the same.
Woolworths responded to the Western Australian ban on plastic bags, which comes into effect in July.
“Over the next month, we’ll be gradually phasing out plastic shopping bags from our stores and online orders across WA, as we move to support the WA Government’s upcoming plastic bag ban,” Woolworths’ State General Manager for WA Karl Weber said at the time.
“This change will see more than 30 million plastic bags removed from circulation in WA every year — which is a big win for the health of our oceans and waterways. While our paper bags will continue to be available, the most sustainable bag you can use is the reusable one you bring from home.”
The company claims to be the first supermarket chain pledging to remove plastic bags for good.
Business statistics showed that eight in every 10 Woolworths customers already bring their own bags when shopping, and by that rhetoric the company can strongly believe there will be zero plastic bags being used this time next year, thus contributing to a sustainable ecological environment.
Woolworths managing director Natalie Davis said that people would adjust to the change rapidly, as they did in 2018 following the introduction of reusable plastic bags.
“We’ve seen a huge shift in shopping habits since we stopped giving out single use plastic bags … the reusable plastic bags have played their part and now it’s time to do away with selling plastic shopping bags at our checkouts for good,” she said.
“Bringing your own bags is the very best outcome for the environment, and we encourage our customers to keep up the great work.
“Paper bags will continue to be available for those who forget to bring their own – but ultimately we want to sell less bags altogether.”
Stores in South Australia and the Northern Territory will be next to follow suit, with the transition slated for this September.
The company stood to make roughly $71 million in gross profit when they replaced the free lightweight bags with the heavier and more environmentally friendly 15c options.
