From 1 June 2009 Target will no longer provide plastic shopping bags at its checkouts in any of the 283 Target and Target Country stores across Australia.
Customers will have a choice:
- To not use a bag
- To bring their own bag
- Or to choose from Target’s range of available bags if they wish to purchase one.
Stores will have on offer:
- Medium reusable Red Bag ($1.00)
- Fold up reusable Red Bag ($1.50)
- Large reusable Red Bag ($2.00)
- Fashion reusable bags (from $2.99)
- Compostable bag regular ($0.10)
- Compostable bag large ($0.20).
This national decision was a natural progression following the successful implementation of a similar change in South Australian Target stores in December 2008.
To educate customers about the change Target will have a strong instore customer information program with team members at the checkouts, supported by instore leaflets and signage encouraging customers to switch to reusable bags. In addition, an extensive external media program will include catalogue baseplates, radio and press ads, and a television commercial in the lead up to and beyond 1 June.
All profits from the sale of Target’s reusable Red Bags go to The Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Buddy Bags Program; so far over $102,000 has been raised nationally since the bags were launched in November 2008.
Target believes the small fee per compostable bag will encourage customers to stop and think whether they really need a bag, only purchase the bags they need and drive the change to using reusable bags.
The compostable bag fee goes towards the additional cost of supplying compostable bags, which are up to five times more expensive than the current plastic shopping bags.
Target’s compostable bag:
- Utilises cornstarch in its ingredients and is compostable, biodegradable and non toxic
- Is fully compliant with Australian Standard AS 4736-2006. This is Australia’s standard for bag biodegradability
- Is compostable at industrial composting facilities used by councils offering a kerbside greenwaste collection service
- Will start to break down within 7 days and be broken down within 45 days in a professionally run industrial organic composting facility.
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