Woolworths has unveiled locally made compostable fruit and vegetable bags across its stores in South Australia. 

The business believes the switch can help divert 70 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills each year. The compostable bags can be discarded in home DIY compost pits or in the council-provided green bins for garden waste. 

The organic bags are made in South Australia by Biobag and will be available across the retailers’ fruit and vegetable departments along with reusable nylon bags, available in three packs. The bags can also be used as liners in council-provided scrap ‘kitchen caddies’. 

Woolworths South Australia assistant state manager Elisha Moore says this shift represents ‘a big breakthrough’ in sustainable shopping for customers in the state.

“South Australia leads the nation in household access to council-provided composting, so it’s a great place to launch sustainable initiatives like these new bags,” said Moore.

Deputy Premier of South Australia and Environment Minister, Susan Close welcomed the initiative and said South Australia was a ‘logical choice’ for Woolworths. 

“All our metropolitan councils in Adelaide accept food waste in their green bins and so do many regional and country councils. No other state in Australia has this level of waste and recycling available to households,” she said.

The retailer is also working to make 100 per cent of its own-brand packaging recyclable, reusable and compostable by the end of next year.