Why I Pick Woolies!

[icyfroth]

From today, Woolworths customers nationwide will have the option of purchasing paper shopping bags to carry their shopping home in.

The new carry bags, which were trialed successfully at a number of Woolworths stores last year, have been introduced to meet growing customer demand for alternatives which can be easily recycled in household curbside collection.

Made from 70 percent recycled paper, the bags will be sold at cost for 20 cents, in addition to the supermarket’s existing reusable plastic bags and Bag for Good options.

All paper used has been sourced responsibly, as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, with non-recycled paper used in conjunction with recycled paper to provide a stronger structure. The bags have been tested to carry up to 6kg worth of groceries.

Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said: ”While the vast majority of our customers bring their own bags, we know customers sometimes drop by a store unplanned or can forget their bags when they’re on the run.

”For some time, customers have told us they’d like the option of a strong paper bag option, so we’re pleased to now offer that choice at our checkouts, alongside our existing reusable plastic bags.

https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/paper-bag-update

Well there ya go!

Back to the old days (1970s, when I was a checkout-chick) before plastic shopping bags, when we used to use our own bags or paper sacks to take our groceries home. Or have them delivered.

I'm really liking that Woolies is offering the recycled paper bags option.

[icyfroth]

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@imastawka wrote:

If we send all the paper for recycling overseas, how do we make anything if it ain't here?

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The simple logic would be to keep our waste paper here and manufacture the bags locally. Lord knows we have plenty of unemployed ppl here that would be grateful for a job.

[icyfroth]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

The plastic produce bags have been available in my Woolies for yonks.

I don't buy them. The free ones are still available and they get at least a second life as freezer bags.

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Yes I use the produce bags and kitchen tidy bin liners, and sometimes as freezer bags.

[icyfroth]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@davewil1964 wrote:

The plastic produce bags have been available in my Woolies for yonks.

I don't buy them. The free ones are still available and they get at least a second life as freezer bags.

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Yes I use the produce bags and kitchen tidy bin liners, and sometimes as freezer bags.

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That should read: "Yes I use the produce bags as kitchen tidy bin liners, and sometimes as freezer bags."

[joztamps]

It would seem to me that there is very little environmentally beneficial in using these paper bags if

- the initial manufacture and supply involves shipping the materials to Asia, then shipping them to Australia, and

- their re-cycling and re-use involves the same two-way process over again.

[joztamps]

On 2nd thoughts, bags made of plastic and recycled paper couldn't be recycled anyway**, so your choice is between multi-use bags made of recycled plastic, or single-use bags made of plastic and recycled paper - each of which go straight to landfill when you put them out on the curb (even if you put the pseudo-paper ones in your recycling bin).

** Woolworths are notably silent on this issue.

[zanadoo_56]

I'm old enough to remember why we switched from paper bags to plastic ones.....to save the trees.  Now we are going to back to paper bags and people are getting angry that the bags come from China instead of Oz.

Let China chop down trees to make bags if they want to.  We keep our trees and the anti plastic bag group are presumably happy....until of course someone gets worried about China's trees and the whole stupid debate starts over again.

[icyfroth]

The paper bags state they are made of 70% recycled paper

[*tippy*toes*]

I shop at both Woolies and IGA. IGA has had paper bags for yonks. They still offer free plastic bags (which I use as bin liners),. but you can buy the paper bags for 10c I think.

We recently changed our phones over to Woolworths Mobile. It's run on the Tel$tra network, way cheaper than Tel$tra and the best part is, once a month you can get 10% off your groceries if you have a rewards card. So, if you just do one big shop a fortnight or month, the savings soon add up. Our saving each month pays for the cost of a phone recharge with change.

[joztamps]

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@zanadoo_56 wrote:

I'm old enough to remember why we switched from paper bags to plastic ones.....to save the trees.  Now we are going to back to paper bags and people are getting angry that the bags come from China instead of Oz.

Let China chop down trees to make bags if they want to.  We keep our trees and the anti plastic bag group are presumably happy....until of course someone gets worried about China's trees and the whole stupid debate starts over again.

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The issue is not where they come from, the issue is whether on a Life-Cycle Assessment/Analysis these PR-inspired single-use bags are more or less environmentally sustainable and efficient than the multi-use plastic bags.

China and Australia are part of the same world and the same environment.

[springyzone]

The only problem with the paper bags is when they get damp, as they will do if you buy any frozen produce, the bottom falls out of them.

That's what i remember most from the past.

I usually use a set of trolley bags when I do the shopping. They are good but a bit flimsy. I have been using mine a year or two now but the dowling inner bit at tyhe top of the bags has snapped on a couple, have had to take it out and  tape it up. Main problem with bags if they are too big is weight when filled.

For on the run purchases, I have a small fold up bag in my handbag. I haven't bought a bag in ages.