Media release
26 June 2007

Foodstuffs launches campaign to cut down plastic bag use

Foodstuffs New Zealand today launches a campaign to cut down plastic bag use in PAK’nSAVE, New World and Four Square stores nationwide. The campaign aims to reduce plastic bag use by at least 20 percent by mid 2009, and is part of a combined drive by members of the Packaging Accord to reduce the impact of plastic bags on New Zealand’s environment.

“Research released today shows that more than half of New Zealanders take more bags than they need when doing their supermarket shopping. As a New Zealand owned and operated business, it’s important to us to help reduce waste to contribute to protecting the environment that we all enjoy,” said Melissa Hodd, Executive Manager, Foodstuffs New Zealand

“We want to work with our customers to reduce the number of plastic bags we use as much as possible, as quickly as we can.”

The campaign will build on initiatives introduced by Foodstuffs over the last couple of years, including the introduction of reusable bags at all PAK’nSAVE and New World supermarkets. In the year to June 2006 Foodstuffs reduced its use of plastic bags by 16 million bags nationally over 2005 and introduced lighter-weight bags in New World supermarkets, resulting in 452 tonnes of plastic being saved overall. Lightweight plastic bags are currently being introduced in PAK’nSAVE stores nationally.

Ms. Hodd said that the reductions achieved so far are a positive start, but that more needs to be done.

“The new campaign is about achieving a real culture change. Our message to our staff and our customers is that everyone counts. If we’re going to make a difference, we have to focus on the impact that every single person can make by taking even one less plastic bag every time they shop,” she said.

As part of the new campaign, Foodstuffs is continuing to roll out a new packing policy. Checkout operators are being retrained to ask shoppers if they would like a reusable bag, or if they need a bag at all if they’re buying four items or less. An in-store advertising drive has also been launched to increase awareness of the need to reduce plastic bag usage, and how consumers can help.

“Doing the weekly shopping or popping into the supermarket for extra supplies is such a routine activity that it’s easy for people to forget about the impact of their choices or the alternatives that are available. We want to make it easy for people to use fewer plastic bags, and will be encouraging customers to reduce, reuse and recycle,” said Ms. Hodd.

In coming months Foodstuffs will be introducing further initiatives to maintain momentum generated by the campaign launch. In addition to national activities, individual PAK’nSAVE and New World supermarkets are also trialling new approaches to reducing plastic bag use, with successful outcomes to be shared among all Foodstuffs stores.

ENDS

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