Which New Zealand retailers give out plastic bags, and which charge for them?

Friday, 24 November 2017

Some supermarkets are making moves to reduce plastic bags, but what about all the other retailers?

Stuff looked at some of New Zealand's largest retailers to find out what they were doing.

RETAILERS TAKING ACTION ON PLASTIC

These major retailers either don't use plastic at all, or have committed to phasing plastic bags out in the near future.

Ahead of the game is Bunnings, which went plastic free in 2008. Bunnings spokeswoman Jacqui Coombes said: 'Bunnings commenced a phase out of plastic shopping bags in 2003, with all stores across New Zealand and Australia becoming plastic bag free by 2008.

'Since then customers everywhere have been encouraged to make use of free, recycled cardboard boxes or bring their own bags into store for their purchases. We also offer a range of reusable bags for purchase if required. Customers responded positively.'

Kathmandu also got rid of plastic bags in 2011. Since then, the stores have encouraged shoppers to go without a bag or offer recycled paper bags.

Z Energy and Mitre10 recently announced they would be banning all plastic bags by the mid-2018, and major supermarket chains Countdown and New World will ban all single-use plastic bags by the end of next year.

Shoe Co - which owns Shoe Connection, SNKR, and Bank Shoes - was also changing its policy by looking at a shoe box option made from cardboard that can be used as a carry option so no bag is needed. Spokesman Jeremy Bank said: 'We will also be offering in 2018, an alternative durable option that is made from natural materials which will have a small charge, the proceeds of this new bag will go to a charity'.

RETAILERS WHO CHARGE

The Warehouse and Pak 'n Save are the major retailers charging for bags. 

The Warehouse has previously said it has dropped the number of bags it issues by 67 per cent since it started charging in 2009. It invests its 10 cents per bag in community projects local to stores.

Pak 'n Save charges 10 cents per bag in the North Island, 5 cents in the South Island, and says the money goes into 'keeping prices as low as possible'.

Farro Fresh supermarkets tried a 5c plastic bag levy in 2015 and offered a 5c rebate for shoppers who brought their own bags, but customer backlash meant the levy was dropped. Farro Fresh founder James Draper said there were no plans to re-introduce a levy or ban plastic bags.

RETAILERS WHO DON'T CHARGE

Many of our big retailers give away plastic bags with every purchase as standard. Most did not provide Stuff with information on how many bags they use per week, or what their formal policy was on handing out bags.

Cotton On, which gives out 72,000 bags a week, said it was trialling a plastic bag removal program in Australian stores, but not yet in New Zealand. Its goal is to remove all plastic bags from stores by encouraging customers to go without a bag, buy a reusable tote bag or buy a plastic bag for 10c.

Chain stores Rebel Sport, Briscoes, Farmers, Glassons and Hallensteins would not respond to repeated requests for plastic bag policies but observation in store found customers were given plastic bags without question.

Wellington's Moore Wilson's supermarket also had no intention of charging customers for plastic bags or banning them outright. Moore Wilson's spokeswoman Amanda Thompson said banning plastic bags was 'an ongoing discussion'.

'However we are not just a supermarket so have to consider any action being suitable across our foodservice, liquor stores, kitchenware, homewares, toys, cookbooks and the fresh market,' she said. 'We believe in personal choice and responsibility and readily offer alternatives to plastic bags.'