Retro Woolies item fills customers with nostalgia

A Woolworths customer shared a photo of a Woolies paper bag from the 1970s with a unique retro design to the Old Shops Australia Facebook page.

Immediately, comments flooded in from so many customers about how they missed the bag and wanted it brought back.

“Bring them back please – so much easier on the shoulders,” one customer said.

Another added: “Better than plastic bags and cats love them.”

One simply said: “Bring them back.”

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Others pointed out other uses for the bags such as cooking inside of and how they created an additional position of employees whose whole job description was packing them for customers.

One even revealed it was their first job to pack these very bags.

A handful of social media users pointed out these bags were done away with in favour of plastic bags to save the trees.

One said they much prefer the current paper bags with handles as they were stronger and the bottoms didn’t “fall out” when wet.

Woolworths reintroduced paper shopping bags with a twist in 2020 after an increase in customer demand.

Now, the paper bags are made from 70 per cent recycled paper, making the item easily disposed of in the recycling bin.

Last month, Woolworths announced it would be doing away with plastic bags all together over the next 12 months to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags and promote sustainability.

BIG W is also set to phase out its $0.15 and $0.45 reusable plastic bags from stores by the end of June next year.

Western Australia has already embraced the change, with stores in South Australia and Northern Territory set to be next.

Natalie Davis, Managing Director of Woolworths Supermarkets said at the time of announcement: “Our reusable plastic bags were introduced back in 2018 to help customers adjust to the removal of single use plastic bags from our stores.

“We’ve seen a huge shift in shopping habits since we stopped giving out single use plastic bags, with 8 out of 10 customers now bringing their own bags from home.

“The reusable plastic bags have played their part and now it’s time to do away with selling plastic shopping bags at our check-outs for good.

“Bringing your own bags is the very best outcome for the environment, and we encourage our customers to keep up the great work. Paper bags will continue to be available for those who forget to bring their own – but ultimately we want to sell less bags altogether.

“Customers expect us to lead on sustainability, and this is one way we are growing greener by reducing plastic and ensuring the regular trip to your local Woolworths or BIG W is having less impact on the environment.

“We know the change may be an adjustment for some customers and that’s why we’re phasing this change in over the coming year. We’d like to thank customers in advance for their support as we all work together to create a better tomorrow.”

Originally published as Beloved Woolies item customers desperately ‘want back’