Woolworths has announced that an additional 50 stores plus 2 new stores will be single-use plastic shopping bag free by the end of April 2021. This is in addition to the 145 stores in 2020, that went single-use plastic shopping bag free.
- Woolworths will have around 200 single-use plastic bag free stores in Southern Africa.
- Recycled fabric reusable shopping bags are available at R6,49.
- 35 – 40 tons of plastic annually is saved with the replacement of plastic packaging with kraft packaging popular ‘Ripe and Ready’ avocados.
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As the popular retailer moves towards a vision of zero packaging waste on landfills across South Africa, many shoppers may have been caught off-guard, having to balance their grocery shopping carefully on one arm, whilst opening their car door, should they not have packed their own shopping bags. It’s a habit some are having to get used to, as the removal of single-use plastic from its stores becomes more of a thing.
Of the next 50 Woolworths stores to go single-use plastic free from end April, here are those in greater Sandton:
- Broadacres Shopping Centre
- Kyalami Corner
- Lonehill Shopping Centre
- Paulshof’s Cambridge Crossing
- Waterfall Corner Shopping Centre
The above are in addition to the Woolworths single-use plastic free stores, located in greater Sandton, as announced in 2020:
- Sandton City
- Nicolway
- Melrose Arch
- Rosebank Mall
- Douglasdale
- Blubird Centre
- The Wedge Morningside
- Hyde Park Shopping Centre
- Graystone Drive Shopping Centre
- Morningside Shopping Centre
- Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre
- Cantebury Crossing
- Bryanston Shopping Centre
- Chilli Lane
- Cedar Square
With eco-friendly grocers offering easy plastic-free, ‘weigh-and-pay’ shopping options, without wasteful packaging, becoming more and more popular in Sandton, there is even more pressure on mainstream retailers to rethink how much wrapping goes around their products.
Of late, Woolworths has also changed their avocado packaging on all varieties with a polystyrene plastic punnet being replaced with a kraft box base made from 63% recycled paper, which equates to an annual plastic saving of between 35 – 40 tons and is covered with a fully recyclable shrink wrap.
It has also had its challenges as the transportation of ‘Ripe and Ready’ avocados from farm to distribution centre to store and then into customer’s homes requires gentle but robust packaging choice.
We have been working closely with our suppliers and packaging manufacturers for over two years on this new design, including extensive customer trials over the last eight months with the various avocado varieties. We are confident that the new packaging will deliver the functionality that we need.
// Woolworths Head of Foods Technology, Safety and Good Business Journey, Latiefa Behardien
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