In a bid to go plastic-free, Woolworths announced the phasing out of its plastic bags at some of its stores in 2018 and encouraged customers to buy the reusable fabric bags for R7 instead.
We committed to removing plastic bags in 2018, and customers have largely supported this shift. It’s required a the formation of new habits, which we know can be challenging, and we appreciate how our customers have adapted.
— Woolworths SA (@WOOLWORTHS_SA) June 11, 2021
I always forget to bring one from home. I end up buying a new one everytime ? now there are Woolworths bags everywhere in my house
— Thandi (@Thandi06629628) July 22, 2021
Forgetting your Woolworths shopping bags is the new pandemic. ?
— phunyuka bamphethe. (@Khombi_Ndlela) June 30, 2021
Woolworths charging R7 a bag knowing full well that most people will continue to forget these bags at home and have to purchase a new one. So no, Woolworths is not saving the environment, but rather making a good old profit off their customers ?
— Aniesa ?? (@aniesachohan1) June 11, 2021
Those Woolworths bags are the pandemic. Everytime you forget your bag you buy a new one bc who’s gonna carry los groceries. And people give you stuff in it bc it’s cuter than a plastic sakkie. It’s literally EVERYWHERE.
— nihaad (@newestnihaad) July 23, 2021
Its just another money making issue. They know ppl will forget their bags at home and buy new ones ? i just dont shop at woolies anymore cant afford their prices and def not their bags. Sorry
— Sandi Miller (@Butterfly_78846) August 31, 2021
We all have that one Woolies bag at home, filled with Woolies bags that’s filled with Woolies bags filled with Woolies bags.
— OH LOOK…Squirrel (@Travesty_Kruger) September 1, 2021
The good news is that the days of hoarding are over, because customers can now drop off their bags at two Woolies stores in Cape Town, namely Hout Bay and Constantia Village. Other stores will eventually follow as the take-back roll out continues.
These bags will be converted to shipping pallets for the retailer’s delivery needs. And according to Business Insider, how it works is that Woolworths collects the bags after customers drop them off and then takes it to the distribution centre. The retailer’s partner processes the amount of bags needed and then converts them into black shipping pallets.
It hasn’t been said whether customers will be reimbursed for returning their additional bags.
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Picture: Woolworths