PASADENA AND FREWVILLE FOODLANDS ELIMINATE SINGLE-USE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE BAGS IN AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST

14 September 2020

Pasadena and Frewville Foodlands have become the first supermarkets in Australia to eliminate single-use plastic produce bags throughout their stores, introducing compostable bags for fresh fruit and vegetables, deli and baked goods.

The initiative is the result of a partnership with KESAB to reduce the store’s waste and environmental impact. It will save more than 3 million plastic bags or 7 tonnes of soft plastic from going into landfill.

The certified compostable bags, which are made in South Australia by Bio-Bag, break down just like plants in a composting environment and can go straight into the household green bin or home compost bin.

 

 

The BioBags are made from corn starch, a renewable resource, and unlike biodegradable plastic bags they do not leave microplastics or toxic residues behind.

The initiative follows Pasadena and Frewville Foodland last year becoming the first stores in South Australia to accept bring-your-own containers and discontinuing the in-house use of single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery which will be banned in early 2021 after legislation passed through the South Australian parliament last week.

Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets Director Spero Chapley said the introduction of the compostable bags was another step towards reducing their stores’ impact on the environment.

“The partnership with KESAB has been invaluable in better understanding our environmental impact and how this can be minimised,” said Mr Chapley.
“We’re working with KESAB to better understand the issues with biodegradability of key products and what other alternatives are available and continue to conduct a department by department approach.

“We’ve already reintroduced paper bags at the checkout and continue to work closely with our suppliers to reduce the amount of plastic used in product packaging, particular fresh fruit and vegetables.

“The outcomes achieved so far demonstrate improvement in community understanding of environmental sustainability issues, and this has led to behavioural change and increased participation in programs by our community.”

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs, who helped launch the Bio-Bag initiative, welcomed the move to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
“South Australia has always led the way when it comes to waste management and Foodland’s move to compostable bags for fresh fruit and vegetables is just another great example of this,” said Minister Speirs.

“Just last week the State Government passed legislation to ban certain single-use plastics from early 2021 and this initiative from Foodland really puts them ahead of the curve.

“We know there is significant community support to reduce the use of single-use plastics and I welcome business and industry taking early action before our ban kicks in.”

Chief Executive Officer of KESAB environmental solutions, Wendy Bevan has been proudly working with Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets to reduce their environmental impact and is thrilled to see the leadership taken by them to voluntarily remove single-use plastic produce bags in their stores.

This complements the existing waste reduction and environmental initiatives we have been working with them on such as Pack & Go,” said Ms Bevan.

“With the SA Government moving to ban the first wave of single-use plastics in the short term this commitment by Pasadena and Frewville Foodland’s shows that businesses can be environmentally pro-active ahead of any legislation and KESAB certainly hopes other supermarkets take their lead from this initiative”.

Owned by the Chapley Family, Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets through its Foodland Pasadena and Frewville stores, are also major supporters of South Australian suppliers.

Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets employ more than 600 staff across its two stores including many traditional trades like butchers, bakers, florists and fishmongers.

The company’s policy of no self-service checkouts maximises employment opportunities for local people and helps to ensure a higher standard of customer service.

For more information visit https://www.adelaidesfinest.com.au
ENDS