We’ve only got one planet and we’re committed to doing what it takes to look after it, working together to grow greener every day. We know that customers are already doing their bit for the environment – both in store and at home – and we thank you for that. Here are 11 ways we can be consciously kinder to the planet, to create better experiences together for a better tomorrow: how many are you already doing?
Help carry the load and bring your own bags
We know that eight in 10 Woolworths shoppers already bring their own bags to the checkout, and we’d love this number to grow. Consider leaving your reusable bags by the front door or in the boot of the car so they can pull their weight – literally – during your next shop. But if you forget, Woolworths also has a range of reusable bag options. Our 25c paper bags and 99c classic totes are staples, but our new Art Bag range takes it up a notch. Designed by Australian artists, made using at least 70 per cent recycled material and directly giving back to Australian communities (including the Yothu Yindi Foundation), they do more than just move your groceries. Carry on!
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Store smarter and let your food work harder
Reducing food waste at home is a multi-step process, but preparation and clever storage helps a lot. Fruit is delicate, and how you store it depends on the produce you’re working with. Buying unripe avocados is perfect if you’re not going to use them for a few days, for example. Ripe bananas can be frozen to use later in smoothies or banana bread. Different herbs require different treatment, but all freeze well. Label your storage containers with the date when you put leftovers in them, so you can rotate food around your fridge and enjoy what needs to be eaten first.
Keep an eye on use-by dates, too. They’re different to best-before dates. A use-by date shows when a food must be consumed by for health and safety reasons, but a best-before date defines the period until when a food reaches the end of its peak quality. Planning in advance – and knowing what’s in your fridge and pantry – goes a long way, and saves you a lot of money in the long run.
Mix up your produce with The Odd Bunch
Some of the fruit and vegetables might look less than perfect, but The Odd Bunch is Woolworths’ answer to keeping more good quality produce on tables around Australia. The initiative helps Woolworths support Australian growers to sell more of their crop. These lemons, carrots and capsicums might come in different shapes, sizes or have some skin markings, but they still have the same great taste.
Since 2015, The Odd Bunch initiative has prevented over 300,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables from going to waste. From apples to cucumbers and pears, there’s plenty to enjoy in the Odd Bunch range. Start today!
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Make the most of your groceries: make a list and only get what you need
A super simple way to minimise food waste is to only buy the groceries you need. It can help to make a list in advance (and the Lists function on the Woolies app is a great way to organise by aisle and cut down on paper) and try to avoid shopping when you’re peckish. Planning what meals you’re going to cook each week means you can itemise your grocery list and only purchase what the menu calls for. Before you leave the house, do a quick cross-check of your pantry, fridge and cupboards to make sure you’re not going to be doubling up on produce or products that might be nearing their use-by date anyway.
If, while you’re investigating the stock levels, you find that you have ingredients that need to be used up, try crafting recipes and meals around those products. Use up the last of your bread or yoghurt with simple classics; turn leftovers into makeovers; try recipes that use as much of an ingredient as possible; and craft bulk batch recipes that can be cooked once and turned into a plethora of later-in-the-week meals.
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Use reusable fruit and vegetable bags to help reduce single-use plastic
Consider collecting your fruit and vegetables in reusable produce bags. Made from at least 80 per cent recycled materials, Woolworths’ reusable bags let your produce breathe from the store through to the fridge. By using these bags (which come in a three-pack for $1.50), you’ll be helping to reduce single-use plastic waste. Buying in-season produce is one of the easiest (and delicious!) ways to support our local growers. Seasonal Australian produce is picked for Woolworths and presented to stores at its peak, offering abundant, nutritious fruit and vegetables when they’re most plentiful.
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Try making vegetables the centrepiece of your meal
Mix up your menu and celebrate fresh Australian produce as the hero of your meals by making vegetables the star of your menu a few nights a week. It’s also a great way to introduce new flavours, textures and experiences into your diet. Tofu, nuts and seeds, legumes and beans provide plant-based protein that can be used where you might otherwise use meat. Opt for a baked tomato & mozzarella risotto one night, and crisp sweet potato with zucchini & chive mascarpone for another. Then prepare a meal plan for your week ahead that makes the most of all the plant-based options you want to explore.
Opt for a Green Delivery the next time you order your groceries online
Did you know we offer the opportunity to have your groceries arrive at a time when deliveries are already scheduled in your neighbourhood – at no extra cost to you? Once you’ve finalised your shop on the Woolworths website or via the app, head to the checkout page and look for the time periods marked for “Green Delivery”. Pick the window that best suits you and you’re good to go, helping to reduce emissions and getting your groceries straight to your door.
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Go paperless with eReceipts
Over one million Everyday Rewards members have already opted out of paper receipts, enjoying a faster paperless experience at the checkout. By opting out of paper receipts and saving your receipt history in your Everyday Rewards app or online account, you're helping save a significant amount of paper every year. If you opt out of paper receipts for Woolworths, BIG W or BWS, you won’t be prompted to print a receipt when you shop in-store (but you can request a paper receipt at the checkout if you need one). Plus, receipts are available in the app for up to 14 months after your purchase date, so you’re not collecting fading paper slips at the bottom of your bag. Winning! (eReceipts are available for in-store shops at Woolworths, BIG W & BWS. For full details visit everydayrewards.com.au/ereceipts. Some vouchers will still print out in paper form at the checkout.)
Look out for certified products and understand certification labels
Woolworths sells a variety of products certified by independent certification bodies that might look familiar, including RSPCA Approved, Fairtrade and FSC. Some cover responsible sourcing, and others help verify animal welfare or packaging production. Woolworths is committed to working with our partners to strengthen our supply chain, support our growers, and provide healthier, more sustainable options for our customers. Learn more about certification labels and how to identify them here.
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Recycle batteries and mobile phones at in-store recycling stations
Woolworths has partnered with Ecobatt and MobileMuster to provide a household battery and mobile phone take-back scheme that features recycling collection units at all Woolworths supermarkets. Here, all handheld batteries; all makes and models of mobile phones, their batteries, chargers and accessories; wireless modems; and wearable technology, including smartwatches and fitness trackers can be recycled. Our partners then sort and recycle the valuable components, recycling up to 95 per cent of materials from all batteries and recovering up to 95 per cent of mobile phone materials and accessories, which are used in the production of new products.
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Try container deposit schemes to recycle your bottles and containers (and help reduce landfill)
Containers make up a large portion of litter, and they also take up a lot of space in the yellow bin. Container deposit or return schemes have been introduced across some states in Australia to tackle litter and increase the reuse of recyclable materials, and will be available in Victoria in November 2023. Many collection points are located near Woolworths stores. (You can see if there’s one near you here.) The schemes vary by state, with each accepting a variety of containers. Customers can return eligible containers to an authorised collection point for a 10c refund, so long as containers are empty, uncrushed, unbroken and have the original label attached.