Backing statewide ban campaign
Harris Farm Markets asks customers to #BANTHEBAG
Firmly supporting the campaign to ban single-use plastic bags in NSW, Harris Farm Markets will donate five cents for every customer that refuses plastic bags at the checkout until the end of July in a bid to help change consumer behaviour. The grocer is aiming to reduce plastic bag use at the checkout by 30 per cent, and continues to call on the NSW Government for a statewide ban.
Harris Farm Markets has been a long-term supporter of reducing plastic bag use, including previously partnering with Clean Up Australia on the issue, and always having alternative carry bag options at the checkout.
Harris Farm Markets co-CEOs Angus, Luke and Tristan Harris have been campaigning for customers to make more sustainable choices at the checkout for many years.
“For at least 10 years we have offered our customers the choice of boxes as an alternative to plastic bags, and will continue to encourage them to bring their own bags as we try to change the trajectory of our collective pollution. We now also offer customers the choice to purchase reusable paper bags sold at cost price,” Tristan Harris said.
“We see it as our responsibility to decrease our environmental footprint and drive change within our stores and nationwide. However, we are just one retailer, and the NSW Government needs to enact this ban to avoid us facing a frightening future where we pollute and destroy our marine wildlife.”
“Our shoppers can make a significant impact by saying no to plastic bags at the checkout. Within three months, we hope to reduce the number of plastic bags distributed in Harris Farm stores by 30 per cent, with about one million of our customers saying no to using plastic bags and contributing tens of thousands of dollars to Clean Up Australia to amplify this campaign and get the bags banned.”
Even with alternative carry bag options, Harris Farm Markets is only too aware of its contribution to the five billion plastic bags distributed in Australia annually, and the 80 million plastic bags that end up in Australia’s litter stream.
Ian Kiernan AO, Executive Chairman, Clean Up Australia is thrilled with the partnership.
“We are delighted Harris Farm has taken up the challenge to reduce plastic bags at their checkouts in a state yet to introduce a ban of single-use plastic bags. This shows true leadership and I urge customers to join us in a partnership that can make a real difference today,” Kiernan said.
Media commentator Waleed Aly’s campaign for change, #BanTheBag, sheds much-needed light on the issue and hopefully motivates customers to support the grocer’s instore initiatives.
Customers will be educated in stores about the campaign and prompted at checkout to say no to plastic bags in support of Clean Up Australia and a statewide ban of single-use plastic bags.
Harris Farm Markets looks to continually create value with values, through doing good for farmers and their animals, communities and its shoppers with socially sustainable initiatives such as Imperfect Picks, Curious Cuts, Love Local, Farmer Friendly Milk and now the support to ban single-use plastic bags in NSW.
For more information on Harris Farm Markets visit www.harrisfarm.com.au. Australians can also learn more via the Clean Up Australia website at http://www.cleanup.org.au .