Shopper’s ‘annoying’ experience at ALDI sparks debate: ‘That stuff is a joke’
- Replies 30
As the push for sustainability gains momentum, more people are seeking innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint, and the paper recycling bag offers a practical solution.
ALDI, one of Australia’s largest supermarkets, also joined in on this advocacy. To reduce plastic use, they offer customers the chance to buy paper bags for their groceries.
However, a recent incident involving an ALDI customer and their paper bag has sparked a heated debate online.
An ALDI customer shared their frustration about the retailer’s paper bag—specifically its durability.
According to the customer, her shopping trip ended in disaster when the bag ripped, leaving her groceries scattered on the driveway.
The customer shared an image on social media showing a torn ALDI shopping bag next to several grocery items by the tyre of a car.
The caption read: 'The one and only time I will use their bags. Last minute decision to even grab one. Very annoyed!!'
The items that had broken the paper bag included a large pasta salad, dog food, a pack of bacon, salami, and a few other smaller items.
The post quickly garnered attention, with many sympathising with the woman's plight.
However, others argued that the customer was at fault for not holding the bag from the bottom and overloading it with heavy and cold items.
Many defended the woman, sharing their own experiences of paper bag breakages.
'Happened to me picking up the bag at the register, that was three months ago. Will never buy the paper bag again from them,' one said.
Another lamented the shift away from plastic, saying, 'Bring back plastic bags [and] knives, forks, spoons and straws...this wood/paper stuff is a joke.'
Others pointed out that the situation could have been worse if the shopper was carrying breakable items.
'Lucky [there are] no eggs!' one user wrote.
Not everyone was quick to blame the bag, though.
Some commenters pointed out that the bag was overloaded and not properly handled.
'They are meant to be carried underneath. I don't know why they bother with handles. Old school paper bags you always carried from the bottom,' wrote one.
Another added, 'Cheese, dog food, and large pasta salad in the same bag? That'll do it.'
The incident prompted calls for supermarkets to reconsider the type of bags they offer at the checkout.
Dr Trevor Thornton, from Deakin University, said that paper bags may not be the eco-friendly solution they're often portrayed as.
'The environmental impact needs to be taken into account because most of the paper bags are transported to Australia from overseas. Most paper bags are used just once because they tear or break and aren't fit for two-litre milk and large ice cream tubs,' he said.
'We also don't use paper bags multiple times like we did with plastic bags. Many of us grew up using plastic bags for multiple things, including the rubbish bin.'
Dr Thornton suggested that supermarkets need to offer better quality products to their customers.
‘If I complained about the quality of a product or the standard of food, the supermarket would do some investigations, but I've heard stories where customers are just told to buy two bags to make them sturdier’
Dr Thornton also urged for a life-cycle assessment to be conducted to determine the optimal strategy for supermarkets and other retailers concerning recyclable bags.
‘A couple of markets I go to, you can borrow a bag, but only if you return it the next time you go. It's almost sort of like a bag library,’ he shared.
He also said it would also be 'very interesting' to find out how much profit supermarket giants–Coles and Woolworths–are making by outsourcing the manufacturing of paper bags overseas.
So, next time you're at the checkout, consider your bag options carefully.
And remember, if you choose a paper bag, handle it with care and don't overload it!
You can also try other ways of carrying your groceries like this one trick shared by another ALDI shopper where she used a laundry basket to carry hers. You can read more details about it here.
What's your take on this issue, dear readers? Have you had a similar experience with paper bags? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
ALDI, one of Australia’s largest supermarkets, also joined in on this advocacy. To reduce plastic use, they offer customers the chance to buy paper bags for their groceries.
However, a recent incident involving an ALDI customer and their paper bag has sparked a heated debate online.
An ALDI customer shared their frustration about the retailer’s paper bag—specifically its durability.
According to the customer, her shopping trip ended in disaster when the bag ripped, leaving her groceries scattered on the driveway.
The customer shared an image on social media showing a torn ALDI shopping bag next to several grocery items by the tyre of a car.
The ALDI shopper posted this image of the scattered groceries after her paper bag ripped. Credits: Facebook
The caption read: 'The one and only time I will use their bags. Last minute decision to even grab one. Very annoyed!!'
The items that had broken the paper bag included a large pasta salad, dog food, a pack of bacon, salami, and a few other smaller items.
The post quickly garnered attention, with many sympathising with the woman's plight.
However, others argued that the customer was at fault for not holding the bag from the bottom and overloading it with heavy and cold items.
Many defended the woman, sharing their own experiences of paper bag breakages.
'Happened to me picking up the bag at the register, that was three months ago. Will never buy the paper bag again from them,' one said.
Another lamented the shift away from plastic, saying, 'Bring back plastic bags [and] knives, forks, spoons and straws...this wood/paper stuff is a joke.'
Others pointed out that the situation could have been worse if the shopper was carrying breakable items.
'Lucky [there are] no eggs!' one user wrote.
Not everyone was quick to blame the bag, though.
Some commenters pointed out that the bag was overloaded and not properly handled.
'They are meant to be carried underneath. I don't know why they bother with handles. Old school paper bags you always carried from the bottom,' wrote one.
Another added, 'Cheese, dog food, and large pasta salad in the same bag? That'll do it.'
ALDI paper bags are used by customers to carry groceries without relying too much on the use of plastic. Credits: ALDI
The incident prompted calls for supermarkets to reconsider the type of bags they offer at the checkout.
Dr Trevor Thornton, from Deakin University, said that paper bags may not be the eco-friendly solution they're often portrayed as.
'The environmental impact needs to be taken into account because most of the paper bags are transported to Australia from overseas. Most paper bags are used just once because they tear or break and aren't fit for two-litre milk and large ice cream tubs,' he said.
'We also don't use paper bags multiple times like we did with plastic bags. Many of us grew up using plastic bags for multiple things, including the rubbish bin.'
Dr Thornton suggested that supermarkets need to offer better quality products to their customers.
‘If I complained about the quality of a product or the standard of food, the supermarket would do some investigations, but I've heard stories where customers are just told to buy two bags to make them sturdier’
Dr Thornton also urged for a life-cycle assessment to be conducted to determine the optimal strategy for supermarkets and other retailers concerning recyclable bags.
‘A couple of markets I go to, you can borrow a bag, but only if you return it the next time you go. It's almost sort of like a bag library,’ he shared.
He also said it would also be 'very interesting' to find out how much profit supermarket giants–Coles and Woolworths–are making by outsourcing the manufacturing of paper bags overseas.
So, next time you're at the checkout, consider your bag options carefully.
And remember, if you choose a paper bag, handle it with care and don't overload it!
You can also try other ways of carrying your groceries like this one trick shared by another ALDI shopper where she used a laundry basket to carry hers. You can read more details about it here.
What's your take on this issue, dear readers? Have you had a similar experience with paper bags? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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