Woolworths announces a MASSIVE change coming to its deli, meat and seafood counters across Australia
- Woolworths shoppers can now use own containers to fill up at deli counters
- BYO container initiative has launched in all supermarket stores across Tasmania
- Trials will roll out across further stores in NSW and Victoria early next year
Shoppers can now bring their own reusable containers from home to fill up at the deli, meat and seafood counters at Woolworths in a bid to reduce plastic waste.
As part of a trial set to expand in the coming months, the BYO container initiative has launched in all supermarket stores across Tasmania, and at the new West End store in Queensland following a successful trial at the Crows Nest outlet in Sydney.
Trials are expected to roll out across further supermarket stores in New South Wales and Victoria early next year.
Customers looking to cut plastic in their regular shop can simply let team members behind the counter know that they’ve brought their own container.
From there, the worker will adjust the tare weight to their container, fill it, and provide a printed barcode sticker to scan at the checkout.
Shoppers can now bring their own reusable containers from home to fill up at the deli, meat and seafood counters at Woolworths in a bid to reduce plastic waste
Team members working behind the counters will adjust the tare weight to their container, fill it, and provide a printed barcode sticker to scan at the checkout
Woolworths Group chief sustainability officer Alex Holt said If every customer brings in their own deli container, an average store could save up to 10,000 disposable plastic containers a year.
‘We’re always looking for new ways to grow greener and the option to bring your own containers to the deli is something our customers have been asking for,’ she said.
‘Across the community, we’re increasingly adding reusable packaging to our regular routines – whether it be reusable cups for our morning coffee or bringing our own bags to the supermarket.
‘We hope our new BYO container program will be no different, and that together with our customers we can help reduce the amount of single use plastic in their grocery shop. ‘The potential impact of a small change like this is huge.’
For food and operational safety, containers brought by customers to be filled in store must have a sealable lid, be clean and in good condition, and not be glass or single-use
Customers looking to cut plastic in their regular shop can simply let team members behind the counter know that they’ve brought their own container
For food and operational safety, containers brought by customers to be filled in store must have a sealable lid, be clean and in good condition, and not be glass or single-use.
The option is available on all products sold by weight at the deli, meat and seafood counters, and not currently available for salads sold by volume.
The supermarket chain is working across its entire operations to reduce plastic and increase the sustainability of its products. It has committed to make 100 per cent of its own brand packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable by the end of 2023.
Since 2018, Woolworths has improved the packaging on more than 550 of its own brand and fresh products, removing thousands of tonnes of plastic from items like milk bottles, meat trays, produce packaging and bakery containers.
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