The latest move will make Woolworths the first supermarket brand to ban plastic bags ahead of state ban effective from July 2022
The new paper bags are recyclable and more environment friendly. (Credit: Matthias Böckel from Pixabay)
Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has decided to phase out 15-cent plastic bags in Western Australia from next month.
The latest move will make Woolworths the first supermarket brand to ban plastic bags ahead of state ban effective from July 2022.
Woolworths will gradually replace plastic bags with its Australian-made paper bags for customers without their own bags, as well as for online orders.
The company became the first national supermarket to shift from single-use plastic shopping bags to 15-cent reusable plastic shopping bags in 2018 followed by the addition of paper shopping bags in 2020.
Woolworths claims that 80% of its customers bring their own bags to shop, marking a significant shift in customer behaviour in recent years.
Woolworths state general manager for WA Karl Weber said: “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.
“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 vast majority of our customers already bring their own reusable bags to shop, which is the very best outcome for the environment, and we encourage customers to keep up the great work.
“We know the change brought about by this new WA legislation may be an adjustment for some customers and we thank them in advance for their support as we all work together to grow greener.”
The company is planning to advertise this move to Western Australian customers through in-store signage and radio, catalogue, customer emails and print advertising in order to raise awareness and motivate them to bring their own environment-friendly bag.
Woolworths is also providing bag options like its 20-cent Australian-made paper bag which uses 70% recycled paper, Woolworths’ Bag for Good and foldable fabric bags to customers without their own bags.
To compensate for the void made by removing plastic shopping bags, Woolworths has partnered with Detpak to increase local paper bag manufacturing capacity.
The PEFC-certified paper bag has a reusable design and the capacity to hold up to 6kg of groceries.