In line with its promise to find more environmentally friendly packaging solutions and reduce its carbon footprint, Woolworths has now become the first major South African retailer to begin using post-consumer recycled plastic in foods packaging. Since the beginning of September, Woolworths ready-to-eat sandwiches have been packed in containers made with 30% rPET (recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) made from recycled plastic bottles. Recycling 1 ton of PET bottles not only saves 6.2 cubic metres of landfill space; it also saves enough energy to keep a 15 watt energy-saver light glowing for 24 hours. Woolworths first began using rPET fibre several years ago for the filling in duvets and pillows. Firmly committed to its Good business journey goal to reduce the impact packaging has on the environment, Woolworths is currently working towards moving beyond the 30% mark and also plans to roll out rPET packaging to juice bottles and other plastic packaging shortly. “Not only is packaging made with rPET more ecologically sound and technologically advanced; there is no compromise on food safety,¨ explains Zyda Rylands, Managing Director of Foods at Woolworths. “The recycled PET comes primarily from locally collected soft drink and water bottles and is scrupulously super cleaned; by the local supplier, who has invested some R20 million in a food grade recycling plant and is, in fact, the first recycler in the world to be certified by the British Retail Consortium. The resulting plastic meets or exceeds international standards for food safety¨ Rylands adds. Recycling PET has economic advantages as well. Using rPET reduces CO2 emissions and cuts our dependence on imported oil stocks used to make virgin plastic, says Rylands, adding, “It also helps create jobs: it's estimated that some 10 000 people earn income from collecting bottles.¨ Rylands continues, “We see the introduction of rPET food packaging as another important step on our Good business journey. Woolworths remains firmly committed to reducing food packaging and to introducing recycled materials where possible. In fact, not only have we eliminated over 600 tons of foods packaging – more than 23% of the product lines in food currently contain recycled packaging materials, and most of the sleeves on our ready-made meals, dips and other food products are made from cardboard with a 80% recycled paper content.” ENDS ________________________________________ Editor's notes: Woolworths Good business journey is a comprehensive 5 year plan announced in April 2007. Incorporating a series of challenging targets and communities centred on four key priorities; accelerating transformation, driving social development, enhancing Woolworths¡environmental focus and addressing climate change; it is Woolworths ongoing plan to make a difference in its communities, to the country and the world.

In line with its promise to find more environmentally friendly packaging solutions and reduce its carbon footprint, Woolworths has now become the first major South African retailer to begin using post-consumer recycled plastic in foods packaging.