Environmental Responsibility
We're working harder than ever to make our stores "greener". In fact, Progressive is committed to helping to achieve an overall 40% reduction in our company's carbon footprint by 2015 (on projected growth levels), bringing our emissions back to 2006 levels. (More information available at http://crreport08.woolworthslimited.com.au/summary.php)
PACK 7
Since 2003, all checkout staff in Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown supermarkets have been encouraged to reduce the number of plastic bags leaving our stores.
'Pack 7' is one way we achieve this. All we do is ask checkout staff to pack at least seven items in each plastic bag and we also ask our customers if they need a bag for three items or less.
It's simple to remember and easy to implement. By shopping in our stores and supporting Pack 7, you can help us achieve the long-term goal of reducing plastic bag use.
REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS
Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle. It's the simple slogan that lies at the heart of a more sustainable lifestyle.
Progressive Enterprises joined the New Zealand Packaging Accord in 2004 as a voluntary member and has committed to reducing the number of plastic bags.
One of the simplest changes you can make is to bring a reusable shopping bag when you shop. This helps reduce the demand for plastic shopping bags and ultimately cuts down the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfills.
To make things easier, you can buy handy reusable shopping bags in Countdown, Woolworths and Countdown supermarkets nationwide. Our non-woven polypropylene green bags have handles that fit over checkout packing stands, to make packing easier. You can pick up one of these bags from the special stands near store entrances - they're just $1.39 each. We also have blue chiller bags available for only $2.99 each.
To help promote reusable bags, we also invited leading New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper to create some limited edition reusable grocery bags.
The trendy new bags by Trelise were a huge hit last year, so we asked her to design two additional designs for 2009. These bags are made out of organic, 100% natural jute, and retail for $4.99 each while supplies last! Trelise designed these bags while visiting the South of France, where she was inspired by the medieval history and heritage of the region.
Look out for the latest Trelise Cooper "eco" bag designs in selected Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown stores from 15 June 2009.
ECO-FRIENDLY CATALOGUES
New Zealanders throw away 3.6 million tonnes of rubbish every year. That's equivalent to more than 1,000 buses every day!
We're as concerned about this as anyone, so we've been looking closely at ways to manage our resources more sustainably.
All waste paper from the printing process is shredded, bailed and recycled into cardboard, packing and building materials.
All Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown catalogues are printed on paper with at least a 50% recycled content. Overall, the paper is produced as part of a closed loop concept, allowing for maximum recovery and recycling of materials. So wood is sourced only from sustainably managed forests, the mill uses chlorine-free bleaching process and the printer uses an after-burner that converts solvents to air and water vapour.
Eco-friendly catalogues are one step we're taking to help use the planet's resources in a more responsible way and cut down unnecessary waste.
Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle.
