Woolworths in hot water with customers over plastic pollution
- Replies 7
We've all seen the headlines. Plastic is polluting our oceans, killing marine life, and wreaking havoc on our environment. The problem is only getting worse, with an estimated 12 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year. In response, many companies have pledged to take action to reduce their plastic use. But are they keeping their promises?
Unfortunately, several shoppers said that it seems that many companies are falling short.
Just take, for example, this one item at Woolworths that outraged customers for its 'excessive' use of plastic, prompting them to call out the retailer.
A disgruntled customer has taken to social media to criticise Woolies on Monday for using ‘unnecessary’ amounts of plastic in their own-brand BBQ Beef Burger Kit.
'Hey Woolworths, you go on and on about being green, yet I noticed you are now selling this “convenient” burger pack in-store,' she wrote.
Shoppers were outraged over the excessive use of plastic on a Woolworths item. Credit: Facebook.
Burger patties, brioche buns, cheddar slices, and tomato relish are all included in the Woolies do-it-yourself burger kit, which comes with enough ingredients for four servings.
The shopper claimed that each item was individually wrapped in its own plastic bag, remarking: 'For $16.50 you get one plastic bag with all the ingredients for a burger, neatly wrapped up in individual plastic bags.'
She also criticised the retailer, which is 'supposedly committed to growing greener every day,' for its role in Australia's chronic plastic rubbish issue.
'This is idiotic and is simply creating more unnecessary plastic waste to pollute our planet. How dumb!' the shopper added.
Several users agreed with the woman, with many saying that Woolies' usage of plastic was 'crazy'.
Others offered waste reduction tactics to Woolworths, suggesting swapping the plastic wraps with 'paper box' or 'biodegradable' packaging.
A Woolworths representative reiterated the company’s commitment to a greener business operation. Credit: Getty Images via Yahoo! Lifestyle.
A Woolworths spokesperson responded to the backlash, explaining that the retailer chose plastic wrapping in this instance to avoid cross-contamination between the items in the kit.
'While we're working hard to reduce plastic packaging, sometimes it's necessary for food safety and quality.' the representative said.
'Our Ready to BBQ Beef Burgers include a plastic barrier to separate the different components of the kit, ensuring the meat, cheese and buns are not in direct contact to maintain food safety.'
The spokesperson reiterated Woolies' commitment to ‘becoming greener’, stating that the company managed to eliminate more than 6,000 tonnes of plastic from its own brand packaging since 2018.
The representative also highlighted the supermarket giant's new cooperation with PACT, which was announced on Tuesday, which would oblige the company to use up to 18,000 tonnes of recycled plastic annually in the packaging for its own-brand products.
In accordance with the collaboration, PACT will employ recycled plastic to create more environmentally friendly packaging for a variety of Woolworths items, including milk bottles, meat trays, and beverage bottles.
So, there you have it, folks! What do you think about this issue? Do you think Woolworths is in the right for wrapping each ingredient individually? Or do the customers have every right to be mad at the practice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Unfortunately, several shoppers said that it seems that many companies are falling short.
Just take, for example, this one item at Woolworths that outraged customers for its 'excessive' use of plastic, prompting them to call out the retailer.
A disgruntled customer has taken to social media to criticise Woolies on Monday for using ‘unnecessary’ amounts of plastic in their own-brand BBQ Beef Burger Kit.
'Hey Woolworths, you go on and on about being green, yet I noticed you are now selling this “convenient” burger pack in-store,' she wrote.
Shoppers were outraged over the excessive use of plastic on a Woolworths item. Credit: Facebook.
Burger patties, brioche buns, cheddar slices, and tomato relish are all included in the Woolies do-it-yourself burger kit, which comes with enough ingredients for four servings.
The shopper claimed that each item was individually wrapped in its own plastic bag, remarking: 'For $16.50 you get one plastic bag with all the ingredients for a burger, neatly wrapped up in individual plastic bags.'
She also criticised the retailer, which is 'supposedly committed to growing greener every day,' for its role in Australia's chronic plastic rubbish issue.
'This is idiotic and is simply creating more unnecessary plastic waste to pollute our planet. How dumb!' the shopper added.
Several users agreed with the woman, with many saying that Woolies' usage of plastic was 'crazy'.
Others offered waste reduction tactics to Woolworths, suggesting swapping the plastic wraps with 'paper box' or 'biodegradable' packaging.
A Woolworths representative reiterated the company’s commitment to a greener business operation. Credit: Getty Images via Yahoo! Lifestyle.
A Woolworths spokesperson responded to the backlash, explaining that the retailer chose plastic wrapping in this instance to avoid cross-contamination between the items in the kit.
'While we're working hard to reduce plastic packaging, sometimes it's necessary for food safety and quality.' the representative said.
'Our Ready to BBQ Beef Burgers include a plastic barrier to separate the different components of the kit, ensuring the meat, cheese and buns are not in direct contact to maintain food safety.'
The spokesperson reiterated Woolies' commitment to ‘becoming greener’, stating that the company managed to eliminate more than 6,000 tonnes of plastic from its own brand packaging since 2018.
The representative also highlighted the supermarket giant's new cooperation with PACT, which was announced on Tuesday, which would oblige the company to use up to 18,000 tonnes of recycled plastic annually in the packaging for its own-brand products.
In accordance with the collaboration, PACT will employ recycled plastic to create more environmentally friendly packaging for a variety of Woolworths items, including milk bottles, meat trays, and beverage bottles.
So, there you have it, folks! What do you think about this issue? Do you think Woolworths is in the right for wrapping each ingredient individually? Or do the customers have every right to be mad at the practice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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