Ritchies IGA stores just got a whole lot greener.
Officially partnering with sustainable packaging leader MyEcoBag, the grocery chain will now offer customers compostable shopping bags as an alternative to paper bags at checkout.
The rollout follows a successful eight-week trial held in five Ritchies stores, which was met with such widespread customer demand that now all 76 stores in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland will have access to the eco-friendly bag.
While paper bags are often seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic bags, these bags still have an impact on the environment, requiring four times more water than the manufacture of plastic, and producing 3.1 times more greenhouse gases.
Additionally, paper bags may not be as compostable as users believe, often lined with untested or unregulated materials that may not fully decompose and be harmful to soil and compost quality.
MyEcoBags, however, are both compost and worm friendly, breaking down in as little as 90 days with no microplastics or toxic residue left behind.
Made from GMO-free corn and other certified compostable materials, the bags are additionally spacious, able to hold up to 10kgs, and puncture and tear resistant.
Ritchies IGA National Merchandise General Manager Jarrod Swaine stated that MyEcoBag provided customers with a happy medium.
“Customers are happy to think they finally have another choice, and people love that they can reuse the bags in the kitchen for food scraps, and easily place it into their council green bin (where accepted) or home compost,” he said.
“From a functional perspective, the bags have performed well against their paper counterparts, fitting more items within than paper bags, and holding the weight with ease.”
MyEcoBag Chief Executive Richard Tegoni was pleased with the positive response that highlighted a shift in consumer thinking, and a path towards a more sustainable future.
“This initiative aims to acquaint a broader audience of shoppers and consumers with the practical and environmental benefits of choosing compostable bags, a choice that reflects MyEcoBag’s commitment to a sustainable circular future,” he said.
“We have seen the recent success of supermarkets in Western Australian and South Australia moving to compostable alternatives for fresh produce bags, with South Australia also adopting compostable shopping bags. It’s time for the other states to take heed and make the change to eco-friendly alternatives too.
“We’re excited that the Ritchies team is taking the lead, and we hope this partnership sparks a wave of positive change across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and elsewhere.
“People are choosing functional, eco-friendly products more often, and this shift is expected to accelerate over the next two to three years and beyond.”
