Woolworths decision to phase out its 15-cent reusable plastic shopping bags across its South Australian and Northern Territory stores from this week in favour of locally made paper bags so shoppers can directly support local wood fibre manufacturing jobs by using them to pack their groceries has been welcomed by the South Australian Forest Products Association. Source: Timberbiz
Woolworths says all 15-cent reusable plastic shopping bags should be gone from all its stores nationwide by June next year.
The 20-cent paper bags will still be available from checkouts.
SAFPA CEO Nathan Paine said described the move as the right choice for the environment, especially noting the announcement that Woolworths will work with Adelaide-based manufacturer Detpack to create manufacturing capacity for paper bags which will create 25 new jobs in the family-owned business.
He said this was a win-win-win scenario, a win for the environment, a win for local manufacturing jobs and a win for South Australia’s forest products industry.
“With the announcement it is turning to domestic supply for paper bags, Woolies has now ticked both boxes,” Mr Paine said.
“It is the leading retailer when it comes to caring for the environment by moving away from single use plastic and now it is adding local jobs to the mix.”
Mr Paine said COVID-19 had shown the risk of relying on imports, and the need for Australia to be more self-reliant in everyday essentials such as paper packaging, bags and toilet paper.
“When the major retailers opt for Aussie-made they bring the scale to bear which allows locals to gear up for cost competitive production,” he said.’
“Internationally, Australian retailers are now catching up with a huge global trend. Far from a ‘blast from the past’ the Woolies paper bags decision lines it up with the cutting edge.”
Mr Paine said that internationally shoppers were ditching plastic packaging wherever they could and opting for more environmentally friendly alternatives. The World Bank expects global demand for wood fibre products to quadruple by 2050.
“SAFPA congratulates Adelaide based Detpak which will manufacture these bags. SAFPA urges all retailers and businesses to move whatever packaging they can to natural recyclable, fibre-based products, and then ensure production occurs in Australia,” Mr Paine said.
“That includes everything from printing paper and packaging, toilet tissue and paper towels, point of sale displays, coffee cups, and even catalogues.
“Every extra Aussie paper product means more local Aussie jobs.”
