AUSTRALIA | Soft plastics recycling is officially back in more than 700 Woolworths stores across five states, providing families with a convenient way to reduce household waste.
The renewed scheme was first launched as a trial in five Victorian Woolworths stores in February 2024. Since then, hundreds more locations have rolled out their collection points, with select Woolworths stores in South Australia joining the scheme this week.
Woolworths 360 Managing Director Rob McCartney said that customers have continued to advocate for soft plastic recycling, and the Group was thrilled to be able to give them the ability to recycle these materials again.
Around 40 million pieces of soft plastic, or 310,000 kgs, have been collected and processed as part of the renewed recycling program to date.
The plastic collected through the scheme is also being given a second life in Woolworths stores, converted into products such as in-store wall panelling and Woolworths own-brand bread bags, which are made with 30 percent recycled plastic.
Woolworths partnered with Australian-based recycling companies saveBOARD, iQRenew, and Plascrete to deliver the renewed soft plastics recycling program.
The Group has also re-established a more resilient soft plastics recycling industry in Australia by collaborating with other retailers and major brands, including Mars, Nestlé and McCormick Foods, to support the creation of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA).
Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia Chief Executive Officer, Barry Cosier, appreciated Woolworths' leadership in establishing this collection network.
"This is just the start as we want to collect and recycle more soft plastic packaging," he said.
“This industry-led initiative has ensured that supermarket in-store collections currently provide convenient access to soft plastics recycling for almost 70 percent of Australians. As more brands and retailers join SPSA, we can increase collections in more stores, in more retailers and in more locations, boosting participation rates far beyond current levels.”
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