Big issue with Woolworths’ new 99c reusable shopping bags

The supermarket giant has revealed it is “urgently” trying to resolve a major issue with its new recyclable shopping bags.

Woolworths’ new 99c shopping bags have hit stores, but there is an unfortunate issue with the redesigned reusable carrier.

The retail giant recently announced stock of the popular “Bag for Good” tote would be “run down” across the country to make way for a more eco-friendly version.

Now stock of the new shopping bag, which is made from 70 per cent recycled material, has begun hitting stores – but there’s a problem.

The iconic green carrier is now emblazoned with a “recycle in store” instruction, urging customers to drop it in store when it wears out or breaks.

However, Woolworths – along with Coles – recently suspended its soft plastic recycling scheme in stores following the collapse of REDcycle, the Melbourne company behind the national program.

The supermarket giant told news.com.au it was “working urgently to find a solution” but currently the bags could not be recycled in-store despite its messaging.

Woolworths recently ditched its ‘Bag for Good’ shopping bags and replaced them with a version made out of 70 per cent recycled materials. Picture: news.com.au/Rebekah Scanlan

However there is an issue with the instructions on the bag telling shoppers to ‘recycle in store’. Picture: news.com.au/Rebekah Scanlan

“These bags were produced when the Redcycle program was still available, and we’re working urgently across industry to find solutions that will return access to soft plastic recycling for our customers,” a spokesperson said.

“Our paper shopping bags made from 70 per cent recycled paper continue to be available and can be recycled at home in kerbside collections.

“Eight in every ten customers bring their own bags to the supermarket, and we’re encouraging them to keep up the great work.”

The soft plastics scheme came to an abrupt halt recently, suspending collection at over 2000 supermarkets after photos showing piles of rubbish building up in its warehouses were exposed by The Sydney Morning Herald.

REDcycle claimed “exponential” growth in consumers recycling their soft plastics along with “several unforeseen challenges exacerbated by the pandemic” had caused its recycling partners to temporarily stop accepting and processing soft plastics.

However, for months the company kept collecting the plastics collected and dropped off by customers, and holding the rubbish in its warehouses.

Soft plastics recycling scheme REDcycle was recently suspended. Picture: Supplied

The Melbourne company has a huge backlog of rubbish due to a series of events. Picture: Supplied

In June 2022, Close the Loop, the largest volume offtake partner of REDcycle, experienced a “significant” fire that forced their facility to close for reconstruction.

Another offtake partner, Replas, suffered “significant pandemic-related downturns in market demand”, along with challenges like the delayed commercialisation of new products.

Woolworths new bags are made up using materials such as the ones recycled in the scheme, and are more eco-friendly provided they can continue to be recycled.

The old Woolworths ‘Bag for Good’ shopping bags have been fazed out. Picture: news.com.au/Marion Langford

“We’ve seen a significant shift in shopping habits in recent years with 80 per cent of our customers now bringing their own bags to shop,” a spokesperson for the supermarket explained last month.

“Our new reusable 99-cent bag is made from 70 per cent recycled material and has already started to roll out across stores.”

Following its announcement, shoppers had expressed disappointment over the fact the new bags didn’t come with the same replace-for-free guarantee as the original “Bag for Good”.

The REDcycle issue means the new bags can’t be recycled as planned. Picture: news.com.au/Rebekah Scanlan

“That’s a good way for them to get out of the ‘if it gets damaged we’ll replace it for free’,” one Facebook user noted.

“They no longer have to replace them free, typical,” another scoffed.

Others have complained the new bags are “so much smaller”.

However the supermarket has assured customers the new bag is “even more durable” and added it will continue to honour the replace-for-free offer on any “Bag for Good” that have already been purchased.

Many Aussies praised the updated bag, praising Woolworths for being “more sustainable”.

Originally published as Big issue with Woolworths’ new 99c reusable shopping bags