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2021-04-14

Woolworths announces more plastic bag free stores & further plastic packaging reductions

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Woolworths has announced that an additional 50 stores plus two new stores will be single-use plastic shopping bag free by the end of April and has replaced plastic packaging with kraft packaging in popular ‘Ripe and Ready’ avocados which equates to an annual plastic saving of 35 - 40 tons.

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These milestones help steer the retailer towards its vision of ZERO packaging waste to landfill, which includes the removal of single-use plastic from its stores and commitment for all its packaging to be either reusable or recyclable.
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“These additional 52 stores based mainly in Gauteng and the Western Cape, takes us to over 200 single-use plastic bag free stores in Southern Africa.  A significant achievement at a time when we have had so many supply uncertainties,” confirms Latiefa Behardien, Woolworths Head of Foods Technology, Safety and Good Business Journey.

The recent rollout of the new avocado packaging to all varieties sees the 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.  Kraft board is an excellent packaging alternative to plastic in that it is 100% fully recyclable, biodegradable, Forest Stewardship Council^®  (FSC N002141) certified and locally-sourced,” concludes Behardien.

Woolies customers in the Western Cape may also notice that the retailer is trialling a moisture-resistant kraft pot to replace the traditional plastic pot for their ‘Grow Your Own’ herb range.  If the trial is successful, this shift could result in a 13.9 ton plastic reduction per annum.
Store list of the next 50 Woolworths stores to go Single-use Plastic Free from end April:

Gauteng:

1.    Bassonia Shopping Centre (Jnb)

2.    Broadacres Shopping Centre

3.    Doringkloof Shopping Centre

4.    Edenglen Shopping Centre

5.    Eldoraigne Village Shopping Centre

6.    Eldo Square Shopping Centre

7.    Equestria Shopping Centre

8.    Genesis Shopping Centre

9.    Grey Owl Village (Midrand)

10.  Hans Strijdom (Appletons Village)

11.  Harrison Street

12.  Hazeldene Shopping Centre

13.  Honeydew Village Shopping Centre

14.  Horizon View (The Village at Horizon View)

15.  Jean Crossing Shopping Mall

16.  Lifestyle Crossing Centre

17.  Kyalami (Kyalami Corner)

18.  Lonehill Shopping Centre

19.  Lynnwood Road (Hillcrest Boulevard Shopping Centre)

20.  Magalies View (Rustenburg Convenience Shopping Centre)

21.  Meyersdal Alberton (Meyersdal Square)

22.  Noordheuwel (Krugersdorp)

23.  Northwold – Boskruin Village Shopping Centre

24.  Norwood Mall (Jnb)

25.  Paulshof (Cambridge Crossing)

26.  Queenswood Centre

27.  Ruimsig (Featherbrook Village - Jnb)

28.  Sandridge Square (Midrand)

29.  Sinoville

30.  VanDerBijl Park (Riverside Boulevard Shopping Centre)

31.  Victory Park Shopping Centre

32.  Waterfall Corner (Waterfall Shopping Centre)

33.  Watermeyer Park Shopping Centre

34.  Verdi Shopping Centre (Jnb)

35.  Zambezi Junction Shopping Centre

 

North West:

36.  Wilkoppies - Macrovest Centre (Klerksdorp)

 

Western Cape:

37.  Belvedere Road

38.  Birkenhead Shopping Centre (Melkbos)

39.  Da Luz Mall

40.  Edgemead Shopping Centre

41.  Flamingo Vlei (Flamingo Square Centre)

42.  Fort Road (Sea Point)

43.  Gordon’s Bay (Mountain View Shopping Centre)

44.  Kromboom Road

45.  Milner Road

46.  Plattekloof Village Shopping Centre

47.  Port Side (Green Point)

48.  Village Square (Durbanville)

49.  Welgemoed  (Welgemoed Forum Shopping centre)

50.  West Coast Mall

 

New stores that have/will open Single-use Plastic Shopping bag free

-       De Korenvlij (Malmesbury) – opened 25 March

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