Change is coming at Woolworths: Expect new, sustainable packaging moving forward

[barsuk3000]

Shoppers at Woolworths will soon notice a package makeover in their purchases.

Following through with its sustainability plan, the supermarket chain will be using recycled food packaging from deposited plastics and bottles.

In recent years, Woolworths put forth its 2025 sustainability plan, which commits the company to minimising its production of single-use plastics.

It aims to reduce its use of new plastics to 50 per cent by 2024, and then ensure that its brand packaging is made out of at least 60 per cent recycled material by 2025.


The company has partnered with Pact Group, an Australia-based company specialising in sustainable packaging solutions, to meet their goals. The two will begin with milk, meat, and beverage products under the Woolworths brand.

Pact has various plastic recycling facilities located across the country. We can expect the changes to be nationwide, instead of just a few select Woolworths supermarkets.

The companies aim to replace 18,000 tonnes of new plastics with recycled packaging yearly.

The changes will be introduced gradually. As much as the world could benefit from completely dropping plastics, the supermarket claims there is still a need for them.

According to Rob McCartney, Woolworths’ point person for its sustainability arm ‘Woolworths 360’: ‘We’re working hard to remove plastic from packaging like our bakery trays. However, it can be necessary to protect quality and food safety in some products — which is why replacing it with recycled plastic is the next best thing.’

Woolworths and Pact said their partnership is a ‘multimillion-dollar investment in local recycling and manufacturing capacity,’ but chose not to disclose the exact value.


Last year, Woolworths also backed Samsara, an Australian plastic recycling startup. The group uses an enzyme technology that disintegrates and recycles plastics.

Previously, the retailer has also pledged to phase out its 15-cent reusable plastic bags by next year.

Consumer groups such as the Australian Retailers Association have been doubling down the pressure on Australian retailers and manufacturers. They have also been calling for a national plan by the federal government to eliminate single-use plastics.

While there are notable initiatives nationwide, these vary for each state. There is no singular approach or policy to the use of anything plastic.

Chief Executive Paul Zahra said: ‘Retailers understand the important role they have to play in addressing plastic pollution, but the lack of a national approach is making the phase-out of single-use plastics more complex and more costly than necessary and is undermining the effectiveness of the change.’

We here at SDC welcome this development and hope to see more of these changes from other Aussie companies.

Are you looking forward to the new packaging from Woolworths? Have you adopted eco-friendly practices in your household? We’d love to know through the comments!

[beingoodisgood]

It has to start somewhere. As hard as it is to use plastic, it is sometimes needed. Difficult to sell liquids in paper. Small steps and awareness will eventually get us there.

[grayremus]

Hey there, thanks for sharing this article. It's great to hear that Woolworths is taking steps towards being more environmentally conscious. As someone who's also interested in sustainability, I recently came across shrinkwrap machinery and had been thinking about how to make them more eco-friendly.
I think it's important that we continue to push for more sustainable practices in all industries, not just supermarkets. It's great to see companies like Woolworths taking the lead and partnering with sustainable packaging companies like Pact Group.
I hope that more companies will follow in their footsteps and prioritize the environment in their operations.

[sfreeman8]

Didn't know Woolworth's is still operating! Haven't seen or heard of one since the late 70s.

[cathy37]

I think that is great and wish other companies would follow suit.  I don't have a Woolworth anywhere near where I live.

[calendria]

 

I Loved Woolworths!

Is Woolworths Australian only?
Woolworths Holdings Limited (WHL) has grown into a leading retail group with a strong presence in sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and New Zealand. WHL consists of two major operating divisions: Woolworths South Africa and Country Road Group.


Woolworth closed its remaining variety stores in the United States in 1997, thus abandoning its traditional general-merchandise retail business there. After renaming itself Venator Group, Inc., in 1998, the company operated retail stores in North America, Europe, and Australia into the early 21st century.

On October 20, 2001, the company changed names again; taking the name of its top retail performer and became Foot Locker, Inc., which Woolworth started in 1974 under Kinney Shoes. Foot Locker, Inc. is the legal continuation of the original Woolworth; it retains Woolworth's pre-1997 stock price history.

On January 14, 1994, in order to repay the $1.7 billion debt incurred from international specialty store expansion, the Woolworth Corporation sold most of the Woolco Canada stores to Walmart. Walmart did not acquire the Woolco stores that were either unionized or had downtown locations.


What is Woolworths online shopping called?
Woolworths.co.za | Food, Home, Clothing & General Merchandise available online! Shop the world of Woolies. Order Woolies Dash same-day deliveries, and enjoy enhanced features and exciting new benefits in the same place you shop fashion, beauty, home and food! Is Woolie Dash in my area?