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Current Campaigns : Plastic bags and Retailers : Non-supermarket retailers

Non-supermarket retailers

Many Australian retailers are already taking big steps towards reducing plastic bag usage by providing reusable bag alternatives or removing plastic check-out bags altogether. Here are just some examples:

Click on the company logos below to find out what each company is doing to reduce their plastic bag usage.

IKEA

In October 2002 IKEA introduced a 10c levy on their plastic shopping bags. Since then IKEA have reduced plastic bag usage by up to 85% in many of their stores.

“We think it makes more sense not to use plastic bags at all. After all, the plastic bags we don’t use, don’t have to be produced, recycled or disposed of, so we immediately save on resources and energy,” says IKEA Environmental Coordinator, Gae Gregory.

The new IKEA store in Homebush Bay Drive is the first IKEA store in Australia to be plastic shopping bag free. Other IKEA stores will soon follow. IKEA encourages its customers to bring their own bags, use a trolley to take their goods to their car, or buy an IKEA reusable big blue bag for $1.50 (cost price).

Bunnings

In August 2003 the Bunnings warehouse chain introduced a 10c levy on all disposable plastic bags provided to customers.

“The decision to implement the levy was in response to growing community concern over plastic bags,” says Bunnings Pty Ltd Managing Director, Mr Peter Davis.

Since the levy was introduced plastic bag use has dropped by up to 80%. In the first year, Bunnings stopped the use of 20 million plastic bags.

Red Rooster

Despite incurring an increase in packaging costs, Red Rooster has introduced paper bags in place of plastic food bags in all of their retail outlets Australia-wide.

After a trial of paper bags in WA outlets, Red Rooster found that the holding times and quality of food were far superior in paper bags to that obtained in plastic bags (the Free moisture content in a paper carry bag is reduced in comparison to the moisture trapped in a plastic bag).

Combined Rural Traders (CRT)

Australia’s largest group of independent rural retailers, CRT, is helping to reduce the nation’s stockpile of discarded plastic bags by providing their customers with hessian shopping bags as an alternative to plastic checkout bags.

“This plastic bag problem won’t go away on its own and we all need to do our part,” said CRT National Marketing Manager, Adrian Davis.

McDonald’s

For more than 30 years, McDonald's has led the way by always using paper takeaway bags in their restaurants. The hamburger giant, which hands out 180 million paper bags to their customers in Australia every year, said takeaway food businesses could make a significant difference.

“A business leader must also be an environmental leader,' said McDonald's Australian spokesman John Blyth. “We would encourage the quick service industry as a whole to consider the move to paper takeaway bags.”

Country Road

The clothing and home wear retailer, Country Road, use only paper bags for their customers purchases.

"Being progressive and having integrity are among our most important business values. Using packaging that reflects these values helps us to meet our social responsibilities,” says Ian Moir, CEO of Country Road.

Nando’s

From December 2004, Nando’s restaurant chain is banning plastic bags in all 76 of their restaurants across Australia. In place of plastic bags, Nando’s will be using an unbleached recycled paper bag for customers to takeaway their menu items with.

“This changeover is great for the environment as well as our customers as we have found our chicken and other menu items sweat less in paper bags than plastic bags,” says Carlos Antonius, National Marketing Manager of Nando’s Australia.

Serving 8 million customers a year, Nando’s will be directly responsible for stopping the use of 1.6 million plastic bags.

First National Real Estate

First National Real Estate ordered 60,000 Planet Ark 'Blue Bags' to be distributed throughout their offices.

The member offices initially plan to use the bags as giveaways to clients and renters as they move in. The thought was that the clients and renters would use the reusable bags for their shopping. However, many of the members have put forward ideas to enhance the bags' purpose.

“Member offices can use the ‘Blue Bags’ to giveaway at open for inspections, field days or to simply hand out to clients,” says Mitchell Perry, National Marketing Assistant, First National Real Estate. “These are the primary uses we see of the bags. I am sure they will generate great brand awareness and serve as a fantastic alternative to our current plastic bags.”

For more information about how to order Planet Ark's 'Blue Bags' click here

Porter's Original Paints

From December onwards, Porter’s Paint stores are introducing a polypropylene reusable bag as the only option for customers to take their purchases home in.

Up until now, Porter’s have been using single use paper bags at the check-out. As polypropylene bags are a long-term reusable option, Porter’s Paints Marketing Coordinator Melanie Stevenson believes this is the best bag option for Porter’s and the environment.

Porter’s are actually doing away with paper in other areas as well. Their milk paint product used to come in a paper bag. This product now comes in a draw-string calico bag that can be reused.

TOPICS

What can your retail outlet do?
How to reduce plastic bag usage

Non-supermarket retailers
What are they doing to reduce plastic bag usage?

Major Supermarkets
What are they doing to reduce plastic bag usage?

Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers to those commonly asked questions

Plastic Bag Free Towns
Case Studies on towns that have done it

Alternatives to Plastic Bags
Find out how the various alternatives measure up

Suppliers of Plastic Bag Alternatives
Contact details of bag alternative suppliers

Find out more about plastic bags

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