Woolworths faces massive backlash after bringing back paper bags that are made in China
- Woolworths is slammed for bringing back paper bags that are made in China
- The store added paper bags to its eco-friendly range on Wednesday worth 20c
- Customers took to Woolworths' Facebook page expressing their disappointment
- Woolworths responded to some shoppers saying they are 'looking for a solution'
Woolworths has been slammed after shoppers discovered the paper bags brought back for the first time in 40 years are made in China.
The store added the bags, which are 70 per cent recycled and cost 20 cents, to its eco-friendly range on Wednesday in response to continuing customer demand.
But furious shoppers have vented their anger at the supermarket giant online, expressing their disappointment with the 'Made in China' label.
Woolworths have reintroduced paper bags (pictured) for 20 cents each after strong customer demand for more eco-friendly options
Woolworths has been slammed for bringing back paper bags that are made in China
'Great to see you've moved onto paper bags but they're made from China! How about support our own!' one person commented.
'Just found out that the new paper bags that were announced this week, come from China. It would have been nice to have them made in Australia. How can we support Australians if large corporations don't give us the option? Very disappointed,' another commented.
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'Shame on you Woolworths. Promoting the use of the Paper Bags that are made in China. Surely they should have been manufactured here in Australia,' someone else wrote.
'How dare you support China with the new paper bags. Why can't you support Australia,' another commented.
Customers have taken to Woolworths' Facebook page expressing their disappointment with the 'Made in China' label
Other shoppers were more accepting of the paper bags being made in China.
'So you'll be asking people to throw out and stop using their iPhones when exactly? #AppleMadeInChina,' one wrote.
'I'm not seeing the issue. It's a bag, do you not like the colour?' another sarcastically commented.
'Yeah we should produce them in Australia for 5 times the cost and then whinge on here about how the paper bag costs so much more than the plastic,' someone else explained.
The giant supermarket responded to frustrated customers saying they are looking for a solution.
'We're currently looking to work with Australian manufacturers to build the capacity to manufacture the paper bags here in Australia,' they wrote.
'We're big supporters of Australian made products, and we're continuing to work with Aussie manufacturers to help find a solution as soon as possible.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment.
Customers have taken to Woolworths' Facebook page expressing their disappointment with the 'Made in China' label
The new Woolworths (Bondi Junction store pictured) paper bags are made up of 70 per cent recycled paper and can hold up to six kilograms worth of groceries
Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said the reintroduction of the paper bag came after extended consultation with their customer base.
'These paper bags resonated really well with customers when we trialled them in 20 stores last year,' she said.
'We expect to see a positive response from the customers who've been asking for this option nationwide.'
The supermarket giant said all paper used had been sourced responsibly and a mix of non-recycled and recycled paper had given the bags extra strength.
Extensive testing also found the new paper bags can carry up to six kilograms worth of groceries.
Plans are now underway to extend the option to Woolworths' online customers for home delivery and pick up.
Since Woolworths started phasing out single-use plastic bags in 2018 more than 6 billion have been taken out of circulation.
Data from the supermarket giant also found only 15 per cent of customers buy a new plastic bag at the checkout.
Plans are also in motion to introduce the paper bag option for online deliveries (Woolworths delivery driver pictured in Sydney)
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