The Warehouse to charge for plastic bags
The Warehouse has become the latest retailer to add a 10c surcharge on its plastic bags in a bid to encourage the use of re-usable bags.
The surcharge will come into effect from April 20, with the country’s biggest retailer planning to pump the profits from the sale of the bags into local community groups.
Chief executive Ian Morrice says the company is expecting the charge to “significantly reduce the unnecessary use” of plastic bags, estimating that 20 million bags will be taken out of circulation in the first year of the surcharge.
“Overseas research, coupled with the trial recently conducted in The Warehouse stores, suggests that applying a small charge to check-out bags directly results in reduction, and our customers agree.”
The company is expecting its customers to get behind the plan, with a recent survey of the retailer’s customers finding that 78% support the change, with another 85% of consumers shopping at the stores where the trails took place saying they would choose not to use a plastic bag once the 10c charge applies.
Bags can be returned for recycling at The Warehouse stores.
The Warehouse’s move is part of its Make a Difference campaign, a voluntary initiative funded by The Warehouse, Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs. The campaign was established in July 2007 and seeks to reduce the use of plastic bags by a fifth by this coming July.
Earlier this year, Retailers Association chief executive john Albertson said the campaign was on target to reach this goal, with 100 million bags taken out of circulation since the Packaging Accord was signed in 2004.
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Comments and questions15
I think this is a great move by the warehouse - being leaders in the community and helping our environment. I'm sure they would not say they will donate profits and not actually do it - and I do know each store chooses their own charity - therefore going to some great causes. Well done Warehouse.
What is this nonsense? is this just A PC hangover from the last radical leftist thinking Govt.Ten Cents? it would not even cost one cent A bag and as for saying the profits from the sale of the bags will go into local community groups,well I will believe that when I see it!
what a load of crap!
Discipline of their founding principles of bringing their goods to the customers at the best possible price has been lost.
Will Warehouse let us return the plastic and other packaging that shrouds their goods and give us a price rebate for it? That would go MUCH FURTHER toward cutting down on waste materials and the need to recycle than having to pay for a couple of checkout bags, as well as putting more money back into the pockets of the consumers who keep retailers like Warehouse in business by going back for more. Tell you what, Warehouse... I'll pay for your bag when you sell me your goods if you buy the packaging back before I take the goods away from your store. That would help subsidise the council rates I have to pay to dispose of your packaging rubbish. Otherwise, I'll unpack the goods outside your front door and you can recycle the rubbish at your cost. It's got to be good for the bio- and economic environments!
Yet another company using green issues to lower their costs. If they are really so concerned about the plastic bag issue they could use paper bags made from recycled material.
Plastic plastic everywhere and not a bit to recycle. The toys TWH sell are plastic, the wrapping is plastic, the packaging is plastic. What a great idea to unwrap the goods at their door and let them dispose of the packaging. Doing this will ensure that when the purchaser discovers the toys inside are faulty, they will save the planet by not having to drive back the TWH to exchannge them.
It reminds of years ago taking back soft drink bottles and beer bottles to get 2 cents. As if all that ever saved the environment. It's just makes a company think they are being good citizens. It won't save the planet which is sinking fast.
...you are making a BIG mistake. Firstly, I note your so called 'trials' have been held in little hick towns, and not larger metropolitan areas where your biggest customer base lies. WTF?? I am a frequent customer of the Wharehouse often buying a number of smaller items and having to walk long distances with them to return to carpark. I can tell you now, I will rant and rave and go blue in the face before I pay for a plastic bag from your store in which to pack and conveinently cart the goods I have just purchsed form you. Bring back the bag FREE or, your will face a major customner revolt, espacially in the big cities.
...you are making a BIG mistake. Firstly, I note your so called 'trials' have been held in little hick towns, and not larger metropolitan areas where your biggest customer base lies. WTF?? I am a frequent customer of the Wharehouse often buying a number of smaller items and having to walk long distances with them to return to carpark. I can tell you now, I will rant and rave and go blue in the face before I pay for a plastic bag from your store in which to pack and conveinently cart the goods I have just purchsed form you. Bring back the bag FREE or, your will face a major customner revolt, espacially in the big cities.
They are doing this in England big time and everyone is jumping on the bandwaggon charging up to 15p for bags which they buy for less than 1p. It is just giving the shops bigger profits in the name of saving the planet. We all have to walk around with a number of bags in order to carry our big purchases back to car or bus stop. They are finding their sales figures are reducing as people put the goods back on shelves. Paper carrier bags please if you want us to spend our money in your stores.
Now then if I pay the lousy Ten Cents and the bag bursts out in the car park,the goods fall to the ground and smash will the WH replace the goods as they have sold me an article (bag) not fit for the purpose as sold for?
Great job, making a difference to the environment
they just want to make more money out of cheap stuff made in china!
i think its a dam right rip off
This is an old article so just in case some warehouse marketing pinhead googles, here in 2012 the local Warehouse staff tell me they are getting near daily complaints still from customers who dislike the greenwash scam the 10c bag fee brings. Customers taking the big trolleys for a long walk with just a few items that staff must collect from the carparks, still I guess it keeps the students in a job.
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