Pick n Pay Bags the Greenest in Sustainability Design

The Pick n Pay Group, one of Africa’s largest retailers of food, clothing and general merchandise, has announced it will be calling on its consumers to switch to eco-friendly shopping bags for a ‘green’ shopping experience in all its outlets.

In a new sustainability initiative, the South African supermarket chain hopes to reduce customer dependency on non-biodegradable plastic bags and has chosen a sustainable shopping bag design that it hopes will define its green trend.

Known simply as ‘The Bag’, the winning eco-bag, designed by 24 year old graphic designer, Charlotte Coetzee, was actually chosen by the supermarket chain’s customers in a web-based green bag design competition that invited budding designers to submit designs for a new and stylish eco-friendly Pick n Pay bag.

Andre Nel, Pick n Pay’s spokesman, said the initiative was all in the interest of the environment. The company will also support social and community projects as a tribute to its customers by sourcing the eco-bags from women’s community-based income generating groups.

Township Patterns, a community group of women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds wil manufacture the bags for Pick n Pay.

The bags, which are manufactured from entirely locally sourced natural fibers, will be available in Pick n Pay stores around the country from March 2009.

Pick n Pay has sold more than 11million green bags to date since deciding to offer a ‘green’ shopping experience, according to the company.

“Although current consumer demand still dictates we make our 24-micron bag available for purchase, we have found that more and more of our shoppers are switching to our alternatives – the ‘bag for life’ and our ‘green bag’”, said Pick n Pay’s Nick Badminton.

“As part of Pick n Pay’s campaign to relegate plastic bags to the same status as dinosaurs, we decided to let our customers have the last word on a durable and stylish alternative, and invited them not only to provide innovative, fresh designs for the bags, but to also vote for their favorite designs”.

More than 386 designs were submitted and 54 569 votes registered on the site during the competition period.

Furthering its commitment to the environment, the entire campaign was ‘paperless’ as it was conducted entirely via the company’s website.

The winning design will be a limited edition, after which a range of bag designs will be available, Nel said.