Plastic-free stores sell ‘last resort’ plastic bags
She would not say how many emergency bags had been sold, but said they were a ‘‘last resort’’ for shoppers. The emergency plastic bags were thicker than a single-use plastic bag and could be used up to 20 times.
Ecoware Food Packaging founder James Calver said reusable bag options should not include more plastic bags.
‘‘I can see Countdown are trying hard to do better, and it’s fantastic that they are making a stance against single-use plastic bags, but using more plastic in a different format isn’t the answer. Once plastic, in any form, is created, we have it forever.’’
Calver visited one of the chain’s 10 plastic-free supermarkets on Saturday, and forgot to bring a bag.
He was offered an emergency plastic bag, which was marketed as reusable, he said.
‘‘While the new Countdown bags are thicker than single-use plastic bags, they are still plastic.’’
Countdown had the opportunity to use its size and market power ‘‘to do something really inspiring with their sustainability’’, Calver said.
Hannifin said the company would review the bag options next year, and make a call on whether the emergency bags were still needed. From August, the emergency plastic bags would be made from up to 80 per cent recycled plastic, she said.
‘‘Wherever possible we want to contribute to the circular economy rather than introduce new plastic.’’
The supermarket’s first preference was for shoppers to bring their own bags, rather than buy one, Hannifin said.
Both the ‘‘emergency’’ plastic bag, and a black Countdownbranded reusable bag, could be recycled in the soft plastics recycling bins at Countdown supermarkets, she said.