Over the past few years, society has consciously made the shift to be more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, especially when it comes to plastic and the waste it produces. Popular retailer Woolworths is one of the companies trying to lessen their impact, and have recently sent a notice to 121 of its stores to go plastic-free from November 9.

Woolworths plans to have zero waste-to-landfill packaging, and to use only reusable or recyclable packaging by 2022.

The retailer first announced this plan in 2018, and since then has made active moves to ensure it uses less plastic in its packaging and that all packaging is recyclable.

“In our drive to find effective solutions for more sustainable packaging, we’re proud to say that we’ve pioneered several firsts. That’s because we’re constantly working with our suppliers, our technologists, recyclers (collectors, material converters, etc.), producer responsibility organisations and other industry bodies and experts in the field to find the best way forward for us, our customers, our communities and the planet,” Woolworths said.

The retailer plans to make the following changes:

– Packaging in its speciality range of tomatoes now comes in a fully recyclable kraft tray made from 65% recycled paper, and a polypropylene lid. These changes resulted in 20 g less plastic per pack or 77 tonnes less plastic, per year from going to landfill.

– Redesigning most long life herbs & spices packaging, saving 364 tonnes of packaging from going to landfill.

– Replacing part of its to-go plastic packaging with recyclable paper board, printing directly on the board. Now 5.9 million fewer labels and 32 tonnes less plastic end up in a landfill.

– Introducing a fully-recyclable Earth Friendly range, with all products containing a minimum of 25% recycled plastic

– Various home care products that now come in 100% recycled plastic bottles

The next phase of its plan includes steadily weaning its shoppers off single-use plastics from November 9.

It’s Cape stores that will not be using plastic bags include:

  1. Constantia Emporium (Already in effect)
  2. Steenberg Village (Already in effect)
  3. V&A Waterfront (Already in effect)
  4. Hout Bay (Already in effect)
  5. Pinelands (Already in effect)
  6. Blue Route Mall (Already in effect)
  7. Tyger Valley (Already in effect)
  8. Canal Walk CT (Already in effect)
  9. Plettenberg Bay (Already in effect)
  10. Knysna Mall (Already in effect)
  11. Cavendish Square (Food Market – Already in effect)
  12. Paarl Mall (Food Market- Already in effect)
  13. Table Bay Mall (Food Market – Already in effect)
  14. Constantia Village
  15. Waterstone S/west
  16. Palmyra Road
  17. Gardens CT
  18. Park & Shop
  19. Big Bay
  20. Fishhoek
  21. Willowbridge
  22. Capricorn Square
  23. Old Bakery
  24. Cobble Walk
  25. Kloof Street CT
  26. The Sanctuary
  27. Colosseum CT
  28. Paddocks
  29. Laborie Centre Paarl
  30. Okovango Crossing
  31. Glen Garry
  32. Parklands
  33. Soneike
  34. Laguna Mall
  35. Foreshore
  36. Wellington
  37. Dean Street
  38. Sunset Beach
  39. Sir Lowrys Pass
  40. Franschhoek
  41. Rondebosch Corp
  42. Camps Bay
  43. Simonstown
  44. Main Rd Kenilworth
  45. Sitari CT
  46. Richmond

Picture: Woolworths

Article written by

Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.