Well for the bananas anyway! I was out grocery shopping tonight at my local Coles stupidmarket, and I noticed that they have now changed the packaging on their Aussie organic bananas. Previously they had been individually packaged (in 500g lots) on foam trays and wrapped in plastic wrap, so they were a no-go zone for me. I emailed them about this issue some time ago but hadn't ever received a reply. Anyway, tonight I noticed that the organic bananas, while still packaged in 500g lots, they are now on recycled cardboard trays and wrapped in cellophane. Yay. Much more sensible.
I'm going to write to them again and a) note that I'm really happy with this change, and b) ask if the cellophane is natural or synthetic. Natural cellophane is compostible, whereas the synthetic version is not.
Next step is to convince them to stock wholemeal organic flour and pasta, and to change the packaging on their other organic produce like carrots and potatoes: heavy duty paper bags perhaps? Hessian? Calico? Suggestions (to include in my email)?
8 comments:
I personally would say hessian for potatoes and the like - mostly because of their weight. And I'm sure it would make a cool bag for a sack race for the kids!! :)
that's excellent that Coles has changed some packaging!
This issue is one in which I am also interested. If you are keen, I'd be interested in co-ordinating our mailing efforts. Maybe two voices will be a little louder than one? Or, perhaps we could use our collective networks to increase the number even further?
Let me know what you think.
bryan@bryan-west.com
Shel, I agree, I think potatoes need something pretty sturdy, although I suppose hessian is probably a lot more expensive than plastic for the producers, which is a pity. Everything else could go in cellophane I reckon?
Ali, yep I was pretty pleased! It means I can grab bananas for the kids more often (and boy, they plough through them LOL).
Bryan, great minds think alike, it's been an idea I've been toying with for a while but haven't had the energy to pursue. I think we have come to the stage where we need to start pushing our local stores a bit more: green bags are good, but there's heaps more they can do. Theoretically they should respond to consumer demand, so the more of us that write, the better! I will email you :-)
Cheers, Julie.
An idea for you and Bryan if you have time - perhaps you could come up with a pro-forma of sorts and publish it on your blog for other people to use to write to their local Coles/Woolies? I'd be keen for that.
I think my local Woolworths stocks organic wholemeal flour (White Wings)...I think! I'll check for sure next time I'm in there.
Perhaps they could supply a strong netted bag made out of natural fibre for carrots/potatoes/etc and sell branded hessian bags (like a green bag for potatoes).
another suggestion is that you only buy loose produce though this is hard for quantity items.
Another thought for consideration is refundable cost packaging, (like the glass bottle schemes of our childhood, or the Aldi troleys), where you get a deposit back on returning the bag.
Keep me posted too, please.
I am floored... I've never seen PACKAGED bananas before!!! The only packing I've seen other than what nature made are those stickers with the produce number, and a few stickers like "stick me on your forhead," and "Organic." Hooray for your efforts!!!
Cat, I'm working on the proforma, I think it's a great idea.
Bare Bones, I can get loose produce through my local organic supplier, but all the organic items at my local Coles store are individually wrapped and packaged - very frustrating!
Anon - yes I know, it's incredibly frustrating to see three bananas on a tray wrapped in plastic, right next to the conventional bananas which are loose!
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