Woolworths partners Amcor to introduce recycled plastic bread bags

AUSTRALIA – Australian retailer Woolworths has launched new packaging for its own-brand sliced bread products, using flexible bags manufactured by Amcor that incorporate 30% recycled plastic. 

The switch, which started in June, covers six popular varieties including soft white sandwich, soft wholemeal sandwich, soft white toast, high fibre white sandwich, soft multigrain sandwich, and high fibre multigrain sandwich. 

Made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) suitable for food contact, these bags employ a mass balance method in production, where recycled and virgin materials are blended during manufacturing, though individual bags cannot be traced for exact recycled content.

This initiative will prevent the use of approximately 50,000 kilograms of virgin plastic each year, according to Woolworths. 

The bags are designed to be recyclable and can be dropped off at soft plastics collection points in 500 stores across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory as part of an ongoing pilot program.

Bryan McKay, head of packaging sustainability at Woolworths, described the update as a practical move driven by shopper preferences. 

He noted in a statement that customers seek reductions in plastic use and better recycling access for purchased goods. 

McKay added that the company plans to expand innovations in its own-brand lineup by cutting plastic volumes, raising recycled material levels, and enhancing recyclability. 

He also called for consistent regulations on plastics to support broader industry progress.

On the manufacturing side, Amcor views the project as a concrete way to extend plastic lifecycles. 

Gerald Rebitzer, vice-president of sustainability operations and advocacy for Amcor’s Europe and Asia-Pacific division, stated that the bags demonstrate how partnerships can deliver on waste reduction goals.

 “We believe all packaging can be designed to be circular and that packaging waste can be eliminated,” Rebitzer said. 

He emphasized the role of value-chain collaboration in achieving these outcomes.

The effort builds on Woolworths’ prior steps in eco-friendly packaging, such as introducing paper-based pouches for its Macro product line, recyclable paper trays for meat items, and containers with recycled plastic for in-store bakery offerings. 

These changes aim to minimize environmental footprints across the supply chain.

In a similar development, Carrefour in the Middle East announced earlier this year that it would transition to 100 percent recycled PET bottles for private-label water by 2025, targeting a cut in virgin plastic consumption by over 1,000 tons annually. 

Such initiatives signal a wider trend in grocery sectors, where flexible packaging with post-consumer recyclables is gaining traction to address plastic pollution. 

Woolworths and Amcor’s collaboration provides a model for scalable changes that keep materials in circulation longer.

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