Australia: Woolworths to face out single-use plastic bags

Woolworths has announced its Supermarkets, BWS, Metro and Woolworths Petrol stores will no longer provide single-use plastic shopping bags nationally from 20 June 2018.

The confirmation of the date for the phasing out of bags from stores where a statewide ban hasn’t already been implemented follows the commitment by the Woolworths Group last year that it would end the use of single-use plastic shopping bags in all stores by the end of June 2018.

Group wide more than 3.2 billion single-use plastic bags are handed out by Woolworths in Australia each year.

“We feel very strongly this is the right thing to do, and that together with our customers we can help create a greener future for Australia,” said Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci.

Woolworths team members at these 12 stores have been talking to local customers about the upcoming change since the date for the removal of the bags was confirmed in February, alongside prominent in-store signage.

Customers who don’t bring their own bags to Woolworths will have access to a range of alternative shopping bag options in store, including thicker reusable plastic bags at 15 cents and canvas bags at 99 cents.