Soft plastics recycling is officially back in more than 700 Woolworths stores across five states, with select Woolworths stores in South Australia joining the scheme this week.

The renewed soft plastics recycling scheme was first launched as a trial in five Victorian Woolworths stores in February 2024. Since then, hundreds more locations have rolled out their collection points enabling around 40 million pieces of soft plastic, or 310,000 kgs, to be collected and processed to date. 

“Our customers have continued to advocate for soft plastic recycling and we’re thrilled to be able to give them the ability to recycle these materials again,” said Woolworths 360 Managing Director Rob McCartney.

Giving plastics a second life

The plastic collected through the scheme is also being given a second life in Woolworths stores by being converted into products such as in-store wall panelling and Woolworths own-brand bread bags, which are made with 30 per cent recycled plastic. 

Woolworths partners with Australian-based recycling companies saveBOARD, iQRenew, and Plascrete to deliver the renewed soft plastics recycling program. 

“We are proud to partner with innovative recyclers such as iQRenew which has opened a new facility in NSW that has the capacity to process 14,000 tonnes per year of soft plastics. While saveBOARD is transforming soft plastic waste into building materials that we are already using in 170 stores,” Mr McCartney said.

“With this renewed scheme, we’re working closely with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia to lead the industry on soft plastics recycling.” 

Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia

Woolworths has helped to re-establish a more resilient soft plastics recycling industry in Australia, collaborating with other retailers and major brands including Mars, Nestlé and McCormick Foods to support the creation of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA).

“We appreciate the leadership by Woolworths in establishing this collection network,” SPSA CEO Barry Cosier said.

“This industry-led initiative has ensured that supermarket in-store collections currently provide convenient access to soft plastics recycling for almost 70 per cent of Australians. As more brands and retailers join SPSA, we can increase collections in more stores, in more retailers and in more locations, boosting participation rates far beyond current levels.” 

A full list of stores participating in the soft plastics recycling program is available on the Woolworths website.