Woolworths makes a bold change to their baskets to help the environment!
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 30
It’s almost second nature to many shoppers: walking into the local Woolworths and picking up one of their familiar two-handled baskets as they peruse around the aisles.
But before you start going for a quick shop, get ready to say goodbye to those reliable baskets you’ve come to know and love.
Woolworths has just announced a significant change to its shopping baskets.
The retailer is introducing new hand-held 'green' carriers made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a widely used type of plastic.
This move is part of Woolworths' ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental footprint.
'The majority of recycled HDPE is from milk bottles, but there is a percentage from other drink bottles like juice bottles,' a Woolworths spokesperson explained.
This came after Woolworths released ‘greener’ trolleys to replace the metal trolleys when they become ‘aged, broken, or need replacing’. These are being used in all of its stores.
However, it's not just the material of the baskets that's changing.
Woolworths has also decided to drop the popular two-handle design from the new baskets, opting instead for a single handle. This design change, while seemingly minor, could prove controversial among shoppers.
Earlier this year, when Coles implemented a similar one-handle design, it faced criticism from customers who found the new design more challenging to use.
'Just dropping by to say I hate (and that's a word I don't often use) your new red baskets you have brought out, just one handle on them?' one disgruntled user commented on the new Coles baskets.
Another customer lamented, 'What have you done with the baskets?! The new design is just awful, did you have anyone in the team look at ergonomics?'
The new Woolworths baskets were first spotted in a video about the retail group's new store in Ashfield North, Sydney.
A social media personality shared footage of the baskets piled up at the store entrance, sparking curiosity and speculation among his followers.
Watch the video below:
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that the new baskets would be rolled out to all stores.
'We're working hard to grow greener for our customers and the environment,' the spokesperson said.
'Our recycled trolleys have been very popular with customers and are currently available in select stores. We plan to continue rolling them out to new stores over the coming years.'
‘We also have trolley baskets that are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and give used milk bottles a second life in our stores while also reducing the use of new materials to create trolleys.’
What do you think about Woolworths' new shopping baskets? Do you prefer the one-handle or two-handle design? And how important is it to you that companies take steps to reduce their environmental impact? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
But before you start going for a quick shop, get ready to say goodbye to those reliable baskets you’ve come to know and love.
Woolworths has just announced a significant change to its shopping baskets.
The retailer is introducing new hand-held 'green' carriers made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a widely used type of plastic.
This move is part of Woolworths' ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental footprint.
'The majority of recycled HDPE is from milk bottles, but there is a percentage from other drink bottles like juice bottles,' a Woolworths spokesperson explained.
This came after Woolworths released ‘greener’ trolleys to replace the metal trolleys when they become ‘aged, broken, or need replacing’. These are being used in all of its stores.
However, it's not just the material of the baskets that's changing.
Woolworths has also decided to drop the popular two-handle design from the new baskets, opting instead for a single handle. This design change, while seemingly minor, could prove controversial among shoppers.
Earlier this year, when Coles implemented a similar one-handle design, it faced criticism from customers who found the new design more challenging to use.
'Just dropping by to say I hate (and that's a word I don't often use) your new red baskets you have brought out, just one handle on them?' one disgruntled user commented on the new Coles baskets.
Another customer lamented, 'What have you done with the baskets?! The new design is just awful, did you have anyone in the team look at ergonomics?'
The new Woolworths baskets were first spotted in a video about the retail group's new store in Ashfield North, Sydney.
A social media personality shared footage of the baskets piled up at the store entrance, sparking curiosity and speculation among his followers.
Watch the video below:
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that the new baskets would be rolled out to all stores.
'We're working hard to grow greener for our customers and the environment,' the spokesperson said.
'Our recycled trolleys have been very popular with customers and are currently available in select stores. We plan to continue rolling them out to new stores over the coming years.'
‘We also have trolley baskets that are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and give used milk bottles a second life in our stores while also reducing the use of new materials to create trolleys.’
Key Takeaways
- Woolworths has confirmed a major change to shopping baskets in all its stores, substituting them with green carriers made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a type of plastic largely derived from recycled milk bottles.
- The new basket design only includes one handle, a departure from the former two-handle design, which may prove controversial among some shoppers.
- When Coles implemented a similar one-handle design for their baskets earlier this year, it resulted in a backlash from some customers.
- The new baskets are part of Woolworths' effort to go greener, with the supermarket giant also rolling out recycled trolleys and planning to continue this implementation over the coming years.