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Source: NZPA / Rob Tucker -
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Plastic bags at the Warehouse will cost customers 10 cents at the checkout from next month.
The Red Shed estimates 20 million bags will be taken out of circulation in the year following April 20 as a result.
All the profits from the 10 cent bags will be donated to local community groups.
Chief executive Ian Morris says the company has been working hard over the past few years to reduce the waste created by the unnecessary use of plastic bags.
He says this is now a step change after a trial in four stores proved very successful. He says eight out of 10 customers The Warehouse has spoken to over the last few months support the move.
Morris says customers have told them they will often take a plastic bag when they don't need one. And he says a lot of customers are now comfortable using a recycled bag, especially at the supermarket.
"We're confident we will get a lot of support from customers for the move."
It's not about making money Morris says, but about reducing plastic waste.
"In our trials we have been able to take 80% of the plastic bags we would normally use out of circulation." He expects the money made from selling the bags will raise about $400,000 for community projects in each of the stores in the next year.
And Morris says despite the recession and a tendency to cut back on environmental projects in tough economic times the Warehouse has been planning the move for some time and is confident it will be well received.
Environment Minister Nick Smith has also welcomed the move.
"More than a billion plastic bags are used in New Zealand each year and they add to the excessive waste that ends up in our landfills. I commend The Warehouse for its initiative and for its environmental leadership," says Smith.
"The small charge will just make people think again as to whether they really need a plastic bag.
"The move is in line with the New Zealand Packaging Accord, which aims to reduce waste, and the Make a Difference Campaign.
"My hope is that other major retailers will follow today's announcement and encourage a reduction in plastic bag use."
The Retailers Association is hailing the move as helping to hit a target of reducing plastic shopping bag use by 20% by July. Spokesman Barry Hellberg says while it is an individual issue for each retailer, this is the way to encourage shoppers not to take bags if they don't need one.
Hellberg says since a packaging accord was signed in 2004, 100 million bags have been taken out of circulation.
In research carried out last year, three out of four New Zealanders said they did not support a ban on bags but want to be encouraged by retailers not to take bags.
The AC Nielsen research found:
- 62% of customers had reduced the bags they use because of supermarkets' efforts
- 76% say supermarkets are doing more than any other retailer to reduce use of bags
- 57% say they had "just enough" or "not enough" plastic bags to meet their reuse needs
- 48% occasionally or always use an eco bag now.
"We encourage all retailers to focus on ways to encourage shoppers not to take plastic bags if they don't need one. Internationally there are many different ways to achieve this including bag charges, loyalty points and other incentives," Hellberg says.
Earlier this month Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said he wants his city to be the first in the country to get rid of plastic shopping bags completely.
Harvey says plastic bags are damaging to New Zealand's ecosystem and wildlife.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentsiping said on 2009-09-04 @ 13:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
Most of these comments just serve to illustrate how woefully ignorant and small minded NZ people are. Do you really think this country is so clean? Wrong, it was but not now.Many countries have a blanket ban or charge for bags, Sth Aust, China, it is a global problem, not just a tiny village in a pacific country, and NZ is part of the globe and part of the problem.Just a lazy selfish group of people with their heads in the sand, get out of your hole NZ, come into the 21st century
jl555 said on 2009-09-04 @ 12:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
While 5 cents might get your attention and make you think briefly about the fact that using plastics has an impact on the environment it isn't a sufficient amount to actually counter the damage done to our planet by the production and use of each of those plastic bags. Eliminate the plastic bags altogether and pressure the manufacturers to eliminate or modify their packaging.
Rustie1 said on 2009-09-04 @ 12:02 NZDT: Report abusive post
I am disgusted that a good environmental practice has been stopped so quickly. Soon New Zealand's 'Clean Green' slogan and image will only be used as an ironic joke! As an alternative maybe Foodstuffs should try GIVING 5 cents per bag saved to those who actually care about the country? Julie
MysticCradle said on 2009-09-04 @ 11:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
We live in Taranaki, to have our recycling picked up, we are required to put it in plastic shopping bags. When I ran out of plastic bags I naturally put my recycling in the rubbish. For the sake of a few free plastic bags per person we must look at how much we are recycling with them. And how much waste are we creating with reusable bags that don't actually last that long???
Kereama said on 2009-09-04 @ 10:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
The intention was there, but not the sincerity. If the supermarkets really want to push for sustainability, they'd pressure manufacturers to use more responsible packaging of their products instead of simply stinging their customers at checkout. Many of the items those same supermarkets happily stock, are completely over-packaged. I wouldn't have a problem with the charge for plastic bags if I believed it was really for the environment, and not just a money-making scheme.