Woolworths

Shop G4, 23 McCarthy Street, Cascades Shopping Centre
 
Cascades
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NEWS BLOG

Waste & Recycling

Waste & Recycling

31 January 2017 by Woolworths

Here at Woolworths, we’re committed to reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill, recycling what we can and using recyclable materials where we can.

Here's How We're Reducing Waste:

  • Everything from our green food plastic bags, fabric reusable bags, plastic hangers, in-store signage, baskets and trolleys are made of recycled materials and in new stores, we’re even using shelving made of recycled paper and bagasse (a by-product of sugar cane processing). Our green plastic food bags are made from a minimum 70% post-consumer and manufacturing waste.
  • We’ve reduced cardboard waste in food operations by using reusable, recyclable plastic trays to transport products to our stores.
  • Every night, our food market staff go through all the products on shelf, identifying products that have reached their sell by date – even though it’s still perfectly fine. Most of this food is donated to local shelters and charities to help feed needy children and families. We’re also working on how we can reduce waste in the production and manufacturing of our foods products.
  • We design our packaging for easier recyclability and our on-pack recycling labels tell customers what each pack contains and how to properly dispose of them. Recycled materials are used wherever possible and we purchase materials from certified sustainable sources wherever possible. We’ve also committed to sourcing packaging materials from sustainable sources as part of our deforestation commitment.
  • We were the first major South African retailer to begin using recycled beverage (rPET), juice and milk (rHDPE) bottles in product packaging. These materials are safe and scrupulously cleaned to make sure it meets or exceeds international standards for food safety. Recycling beverage, juice and milk bottles not only reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfill, it saves natural resources and energy, and helps create jobs.
  • We have set up recycling sites at select Engen service stations in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal and at selected stand-alone food stores across the Western Cape. We also have recycling facilities at just over 30 schools in the Western Cape with plans to expand this nationally. All of our stores also have facilities where our customers can dispose of used compact fluorescent light bulbs and batteries safely and responsibly.
  • We’re reducing plastic bag usage by working with a small local enterprise called Isikhwama, who make our colourful reusable shoppers using fabric containing 80% rPET (recycled bottles). In 2010 Woolworths introduced limited edition reusable bags that offer customers the opportunity to help save our endangered wildlife, including Rhino, Cheetah, Painted Dog, Vulture and our marine life. With our customers support we have raised over R6.1 million for the conservation efforts.
  • Each year, Woolworths donates tonnes of new clothing to the Clothing Bank, one of our partner organisations, and has set up collection stations in some stores for customers to participate. The Clothing Bank not only gives some of the clothing we donate to non-profit organisations, welfare institutions and government services to distribute to the needy – it also empowers unemployed single mothers so they can build better lives for themselves and their children.
  • We’ve partnered with Hangerman to recover our clothes hangers, enabling us to re-use them. Through this partnership, Woolworths recycles around 20 million hangers a year, by a workforce that includes many people with disabilities. These hangers get cleaned and refurbished, and then sold back to clothing suppliers at a discount. It’s good news for retailers, for the planet and communities who benefit from additional employment 

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by Olivia
(20 Feb 17 @ 8:48 am)

Clean and efficient! I do my weekly shopping here and can honestly say I have never experienced an unpleasant shopping trip. Just exceptional service.

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ABOUT US

Welcome to Woolworths – a passionately South African retailer dedicated to bringing you quality, style and value for the past 85 years.

Company Overview

Woolworths, or Woolies, as we're fondly called, began life as a department store in Cape Town in 1931. 85 years later, Woolworths is one of South Africa’s best-loved and most iconic brands. With departments spanning food, clothing, beauty and home-ware, Woolies has evolved over time, but always with one, vital thing firmly in place – our values.

From innovation to quality and conservation, Woolies strives to constantly bring a better service and product to its customer, and in doing so, to make a lasting difference – socially, environmentally and in business.

With over 400 stores countrywide, we’re growing organically and are honoured to have you join us on our journey

Our History

The first Woolworths store opened its doors to the public in Cape Town in October 1931. And it was founder Max Sonnenberg who captured the public’s imagination with dynamic store policies that set Woolworths apart from its competitors.

Three years later, a second branch opened in Durban, with another two in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg a year later. And since then we’ve been building on our reputation for superior quality, exciting innovation and excellent value.

Our Values

1. First to offer Employee Benefits

Keen to attract and retain the best retail professionals, Woolworths was among the first local retailers to offer employees a pension fund, medical aid and maternity leave.

2. First in Advancing Tech

Not just a forward thinking employer, Woolworths was also an early adopter of technology. A lease agreement for the first computer was agreed to with National Cash Registers (NCR) in the late 60's and Woolworths was already using a computerised merchandising system by the early 1970's.

3. First to Introduce Sell By Dates

This dynamic thinking extends to Woolworths product offering. In 1974, Woolworths became the first South African retailer to introduce ‘sell by’ dates on food packaging. Convenience, too, has long been a watchword at Woolworths - we were the first South African retailer to offer pre-washed lettuce and machine-washable wool clothing to consumers.

4. Our Good Business Journey 

In April 2007, we launched our Good Business Journey – a bold plan to make a difference in eight key areas on our journey towards sustainability: Energy, Water, Waste, Sustainable Farming, Ethical Sourcing, Transformation, Social Development and Health and Wellness.

SERVICES

We offer a wide range of organic food products. 

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