Leading producer of compostable packaging, MyEcoBag has launched a new partnership with Ritchies IGA, following a successful trial in a select number of stores earlier this year.
The partnership offers customers reusable compostable shopping bags as an alternative to traditional plastic and paper, while educating shoppers on the impacts of each.
The partnership comes after an eight-week trial in five Ritchies IGA stores across Victoria. The bags were so well received by customers that the partnership has now rolled out to all 76 Ritchies stores in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
MyEcoBag will be working with staff to teach shoppers about the benefits of compostable bags through educational campaigns and live demonstrations. Most supermarket bags, made of paper sourced from trees and offering recyclable disposal, are often considered to be the environmentally friendly choice, however, this is a common misconception, and one MyEcoBag is hoping to shift.
Ritchies IGA national merchandise general manager, Jarrod Swaine said the customer response to the interstate rollout has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Customers are happy to think they finally have another choice, and people love that they can reuse the bags in the kitchen for food scraps, and easily place it into their council green bin (where accepted) or home compost. From a functional perspective, the bags have performed well against their paper counterparts, fitting more items within than paper bags, and holding the weight with ease,” he said.
“The Carrum Downs store sold 20,500 bags, Mount Eliza sold 10,250 and Mount Martha 10,250 also, all within the first few weeks. Every two in three customers opted for the compostable option over traditional paper bags, with customers requesting more as soon as they sold out. A fantastic result, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results across the broader Ritchies network.”
MyEcoBag CEO, Richard Tegoni said the partnership has been a great case study for what’s possible, preferred and planet-friendly, and one that he hopes will influence the wider industry to move towards a more environmentally friendly option, at a faster rate.
“In our latest effort to promote sustainability, we are excited to showcase the versatility of compostable materials through the widespread use of shopping bags. This initiative aims to acquaint a broader audience of shoppers and consumers with the practical and environmental benefits of choosing compostable bags, a choice that reflects MyEcoBag’s commitment to a sustainable circular future,” he said.
“We have seen the recent success of supermarkets in Western Australian and South Australia moving to compostable alternatives for fresh produce bags, with South Australia also adopting compostable shopping bags. It’s time for the other states to take heed, and make the change to eco-friendly alternatives too. We’re excited that the Ritchies team is taking the lead and we hope this partnership sparks a wave of positive change across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and elsewhere.
“People are choosing functional, eco-friendly products more often and this shift is expected to accelerate over the next two to three years and beyond. The strong early feedback from shoppers purchasing compostable shopping bags over paper bags has enabled MyEcoBag to secure pivotal meetings with additional retailers.
“Retailers often move in unison, mirroring successful trends. By demonstrating that shoppers are embracing the transition from paper to compostable options—and that our products offer a combination of superior environmental, functional and performance benefits—we anticipate influencing a broader shift across various industries and types of retailers, beyond just supermarkets.
“We also hope the government takes notice of this growing demand and updates legislation to reflect the shift in consumer attitudes. This potential for widespread change and to replace all conventional plastic with compostable alternatives underscores our commitment to promoting sustainable alternatives on a large scale.”