The plastic bag ban sweeping the nation’s major supermarkets has been slammed by skeptical shoppers, who claim it is a money making scheme.
Australia supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths announced this week they will ban single-use plastic bags. Customers will now need to bring their own bags for groceries, or buy multi-use bags being sold in stores.
The change was long touted an eco-friendly move but has since come under fire as being another profit source.
Both supermarkets claim proceeds from the bags will go to charity, but have refused to comment on how much money would be donated or how many bags are expected to be purchased.
Australia’s supermarket giants both announced they would ban single-use plastic bags where customers will bring their own bags for groceries or be able to buy multi-use bags in store
The plastic bag ban sweeping the nation’s was slammed a money making scheme where shoppers have to buy a bag from 15 cents up to $2.49
Coles will sell sustainable shopping bags designed by children (Lachie, right, designed this bag pictured with sister Annie, left) for $2 with 20 cents from each bag going towards a charity
Only 20 cents of every $2 bag bought from Coles will be donated to one of five charities, including SecondBite, it was revealed in a press release earlier this week.
A Coles spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they could not comment on how many bags are expected to be purchased or the expected total amount of funds raised.
‘For every large shoulder bag that’s sold at Coles for $2, we will be able to provide the equivalent of a meal to a person in need,’ SecondBite CEO Jim Mullan said.
Coles are launching their single-use plastic bag ban next week where some bags have been designed by children.
Woolworths launched their plastic bag ban earlier this week and are selling reusable bags from 15 cents for a thick plastic bag up to $2.49 for a chiller bag.
A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the company was making ‘no profit’ from bag sales and the money made from bags would be donated to a charity.
The supermarket could not confirm how much money would go towards the charity.
Woolworths launched their plastic bag ban (stock image) earlier this week and are selling reusable bags from 15 cents for a thick plastic bag up to $2.49 for a chiller bag
A family of four could spend upwards of $70 a year to bag their groceries – given they use about 10 of the 15 cent bags for the weekly food shop (stock image)
A Woolworths spokesperson claimed the company was making ‘no profit’ on bag sales and the funds would go towards Junior Landcare but would not confirm how much
Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said the funds from the 99 cent bags would go towards Junior Landcare.
‘It isn’t a money-making proposition, it has been one of the things that’s been said out there, nothing could be further from the truth,’ Mr Banducci said.
‘All profits … will really help communities in Australia build more activism by the youth around doing good things for the environment.’
A family of four could spend upwards of $70 a year to bag their groceries – given they use about 10 of the 15 cent bags for the weekly food shop.
Reports last year suggested the major supermarkets could pocket an extra $1 million a year through bag sales.
A Woolworths spokesperson could not confirm how much money would go towards the charity
Reports last year suggested the major supermarkets could pocket an extra $1 million a year through bag sales after banning single-use plastic bags (pictured)