Woolworths introduces eco-friendly revamp to fruit and veg aisle
- Replies 15
Nowadays, being environmentally friendly is a priority for many businesses and individuals alike, and major Australian supermarkets haven't been left behind.
Always on the lookout for better, greener ways to operate, major grocery stores have been implementing different strategies to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.
One such supermarket leading the green charge is Woolworths, which has just confirmed a significant change to its fruit and vegetable aisles in select locations.
As part of their ongoing efforts to be more eco-friendly, Woolworths has decided to trial glass doors on its chilled fresh produce ranges, aiming to cut down on energy usage.
A recent photograph taken at Woolworths Southpoint in Brisbane showcased the innovative setup. It features a row of eight fridge doors with baskets and shelves of colourful fruit and vegetables neatly displayed behind them.
You might think of it as a grown-up version of those much-loved childhood lolly displays – except with the added benefit of being good for the environment.
A spokesperson from Woolworths explained the reasoning behind this change, stating that they are 'trialling doors on our fridges to help reduce emissions' and that this move alone can slash energy consumption by a whopping 30%.
The spokesperson continued, 'Supermarkets are energy intensive to run, and the large number of fridges needed to keep food in top condition accounts for a significant amount of our energy use. We’ve already reduced our emissions by 31% since 2015, and we’re continuing to make small but powerful changes to reduce the footprint of every store.’
‘By 2025, all our stores will run on renewable electricity. We’ve also replaced fluorescent lighting with LED lights in more than 1,000 stores, increasing energy efficiency by 35%.'
The introduction of the glass doors has been met with mixed reactions from the public. While some customers welcome the chilled ranges with open arms – or, should we say, open doors – others have expressed concern that the new setup may create congestion in stores and potentially be difficult for those with disabilities to navigate.
One individual voiced their worry by saying, 'While I get that it’s more cost-effective for the stores, it’s a lot harder for people with mobility issues and people in wheelchairs.' Another chimed in, commenting, 'It causes unnecessary aisle congestion.'
‘It’s a nightmare if you have accessibility issues. I use a cane and can’t hold the door open and grab products easily at the same time,’ a third pointed out.
However, others argue that the environmental benefits of reducing energy consumption significantly outweigh any potential inconveniences.
It's undeniable that Woolworths has been proactive in making their stores more eco-friendly, with refrigerant gas leakage reduction playing a key role as the company's second-largest source of emissions following electricity.
Over the past year, Woolworths has continued installing new transcritical CO2 systems, considered a better, lower-emissions option for refrigeration systems. These systems are estimated to save each store an impressive 100 tonnes of CO2e annually.
On top of that, Woolworths has installed solar panels in more than 150 supermarkets, with their rooftop solar network comprising around 80,000 panels generating enough electricity to power 6,300 Australian households.
While every major change has its pros and cons, Woolworths is undeniably taking significant steps towards a greener future, not just for their stores but also for their customers.
However, prior to Woolies implementing these changes, some ALDI customers shared that the supermarket had added large glass doors to their refrigerated shelves in their local stores.
What are your thoughts on the recent change? Have you noticed the introduction of large glass doors in the fruit and vegetable aisle at your local Woolies store? Did they enhance your shopping experience or prove to be inconvenient? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this, so please feel free to share them in the comments section below!
Always on the lookout for better, greener ways to operate, major grocery stores have been implementing different strategies to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.
One such supermarket leading the green charge is Woolworths, which has just confirmed a significant change to its fruit and vegetable aisles in select locations.
As part of their ongoing efforts to be more eco-friendly, Woolworths has decided to trial glass doors on its chilled fresh produce ranges, aiming to cut down on energy usage.
Woolworths has installed fridges with closed doors for its fresh produce section at its Southpoint store in Brisbane. Credit: Facebook.
A recent photograph taken at Woolworths Southpoint in Brisbane showcased the innovative setup. It features a row of eight fridge doors with baskets and shelves of colourful fruit and vegetables neatly displayed behind them.
You might think of it as a grown-up version of those much-loved childhood lolly displays – except with the added benefit of being good for the environment.
A spokesperson from Woolworths explained the reasoning behind this change, stating that they are 'trialling doors on our fridges to help reduce emissions' and that this move alone can slash energy consumption by a whopping 30%.
The spokesperson continued, 'Supermarkets are energy intensive to run, and the large number of fridges needed to keep food in top condition accounts for a significant amount of our energy use. We’ve already reduced our emissions by 31% since 2015, and we’re continuing to make small but powerful changes to reduce the footprint of every store.’
‘By 2025, all our stores will run on renewable electricity. We’ve also replaced fluorescent lighting with LED lights in more than 1,000 stores, increasing energy efficiency by 35%.'
The introduction of the glass doors has been met with mixed reactions from the public. While some customers welcome the chilled ranges with open arms – or, should we say, open doors – others have expressed concern that the new setup may create congestion in stores and potentially be difficult for those with disabilities to navigate.
One individual voiced their worry by saying, 'While I get that it’s more cost-effective for the stores, it’s a lot harder for people with mobility issues and people in wheelchairs.' Another chimed in, commenting, 'It causes unnecessary aisle congestion.'
‘It’s a nightmare if you have accessibility issues. I use a cane and can’t hold the door open and grab products easily at the same time,’ a third pointed out.
However, others argue that the environmental benefits of reducing energy consumption significantly outweigh any potential inconveniences.
Woolworths says the move can cut energy consumption by up to 30 per cent. Credit: Pexels/Anna Shvets.
It's undeniable that Woolworths has been proactive in making their stores more eco-friendly, with refrigerant gas leakage reduction playing a key role as the company's second-largest source of emissions following electricity.
Over the past year, Woolworths has continued installing new transcritical CO2 systems, considered a better, lower-emissions option for refrigeration systems. These systems are estimated to save each store an impressive 100 tonnes of CO2e annually.
On top of that, Woolworths has installed solar panels in more than 150 supermarkets, with their rooftop solar network comprising around 80,000 panels generating enough electricity to power 6,300 Australian households.
While every major change has its pros and cons, Woolworths is undeniably taking significant steps towards a greener future, not just for their stores but also for their customers.
However, prior to Woolies implementing these changes, some ALDI customers shared that the supermarket had added large glass doors to their refrigerated shelves in their local stores.
What are your thoughts on the recent change? Have you noticed the introduction of large glass doors in the fruit and vegetable aisle at your local Woolies store? Did they enhance your shopping experience or prove to be inconvenient? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this, so please feel free to share them in the comments section below!
.png){kind=icon}
