Woolworths has announced a major change that will forever change the way we shop.
The supermarket giant has confirmed that it will stop selling reusable 15-ac plastic bags to all Australian stores in a phase-out over the next year.
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Instead, customers will have to buy paper bags of 20 co cloth of 99 ca the box, or bring their own to carry their purchases.
The company says that with this measure more than 9,000 tons of plastic will be removed from circulation annually.
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In a statement announcing the change, Woolworths CEO Natalie Davis said eight out of 10 customers had already brought their own bags to the stores.
The move comes after the company stopped distributing disposable bags for free in 2018.
“We’ve seen a big change in shopping habits since we stopped handing out disposable plastic bags, with eight out of 10 customers now carrying their own bags at home,” Davis explained.
“Reusable plastic bags have played a role and now is the time to permanently eliminate the sale of plastic bags in our boxes.”
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Despite abandoning reusable plastic bags, lightweight plastic bags used to carry fruits and vegetables will continue to be available in the produce department.
Woolies said he is currently looking for “more sustainable options” to replace them in the future.
Soon the supermarket will launch an educational campaign and put up signs in stores encouraging customers to carry their bags.
“Ultimately, we want to sell fewer bags,” Davis added.
“We know the change may be an adjustment for some customers, so we are gradually introducing that change over the next year.
“We would like to thank them in advance for their support, as we all work together to create a better tomorrow.”
Big W will also stop selling reusable bags to all stores in the country.