Group charges in to reduce bag use

CARYS MONTEATH/The Press

WIN-WIN: Angus Ho, GetReal campaign team leader, is pleased Foodstuffs will charge for bags at its New World, Four Square and Pak'n Save supermarkets.

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Pressure from environmentalists has helped sway supermarket giant Foodstuffs to charge for plastic bags.

The co-operative announced yesterday it would become the first New Zealand supermarket group to charge for the bags, introducing a five cent levy at New World and Four Square stores nationwide and Pak 'n Save stores in the South Island from August 3.

That follows last month's announcement by The Warehouse, which is part-owned by Foodstuffs and rival Progressive Enterprises, that from Monday it will charge 10c for plastic bags.

Zero Waste New Zealand director Jo Knight said New Zealanders use more than a billion plastic shopping bags a year and Foodstuffs' move could save millions from going to landfills. She urged Progressive to follow suit.

Foodstuffs (New Zealand) managing director Tony Carter said yesterday the move had been discussed for years but admitted the national campaign, GetReal, had been a factor in making the decision.

More than 100 million bags are already out of circulation thanks to the Packaging Accord, signed in 2004 by Foodstuffs, Progressive and The Warehouse.

However, the accord expires this year and Carter said the company had to take "another step" to reduce plastic-bag use.

"We think we are doing the right thing for New Zealand, the environment and for our customers," he said.

"It's quite a big step for us Foodstuffs can be proud of taking this leadership position."

GetReal, a national campaign by environmental groups such as Sustainable Christchurch and Wanaka Wastebusters, was launched on March 29 with the aim of getting Foodstuffs and Progressive to charge for plastic bags.

The campaign hit South Island streets this week, asking residents in Christchurch, Palmerston, Oamaru, Timaru and Ashburton to sign a petition and email the supermarket chains and Environment Minister Nick Smith.

Team leader Angus Ho, of Wanaka Wastebusters, said Foodstuffs' commitment to a 5c charge was good news and a major success for the campaign.

"It is great to see a New Zealand company taking leadership on the issue of plastic bags."

GetReal's spotlight now shines solely on Foodstuffs' rival, Progressive.

Bill Moore, a spokesman for Progressive, which operates Foodtown, Woolworths, Countdown, Fresh Choice and Super Value, said it had not decided whether to follow suit.

"We're looking at the options available to us," he said.

Ho said Progressive should follow Foodstuffs' example.

The Green Party is encouraging the public to lobby their local Progressive supermarket to force the issue.

Party co-leader Russel Norman hoped the move would inspire broader action from the Government. "Plastic bags are not the biggest peril to the planet ... but they do spoil our environment, harm wildlife and add to the waste mountain in our landfills."

A spokesman said Environment Minister Smith commended the Foodstuff move.

About 80 per cent of plastic shopping bags are handed out at supermarkets.

- © Fairfax NZ News