Coles’ and Woolworths’ collectables campaigns are a reminder to stop the greenwashing
Odette Barry from Odette & Co questions why we continue to permit the likes of Coles and Woolies to commit lazy and brazen greenwashing when conscious consumerism is on the rise.
Coles and Woolworths are playing upon human weakness instead of strength with their brazen greenwashing through their respective Little Shop and Lion King collectables campaigns.
Instead of actually being sustainable, the supermarkets are concerning themselves with how they can appear to be more sustainable. What was all the fanfare surrounding banning the bag if it was only to be followed by a parade of tiny plastic figurines? These misguided campaigns are only feeding rising, plastic-choked oceans.
Coles’ Little Shop campaign is “brazen” greenwashing, explains Odette Barry
And, as communications professionals, we are gatekeepers of the message. When strategy is pushed up the food chain, we have every opportunity to question the impact of our work on the environment, people and our community.
Easy solution switch to IGA.
That might stop me collecting the figurines but it is not the solution. The conversation is about communications professionals within organisations like Coles and Woollies having an opportunity to create change and limiting the detrimental impact on the environment.
We need to consider the environment as one of the stakeholders within our communications strategies.
I get it. It works as a mechanic. But I wish they’d give our seed packets or ‘pick a tin’ (saw in Sweden- spend over x and pick a tin to donate to those less fortunate)
The mechanic has a peculiar ability to transfix and transform otherwise sane people into crazed plastic hoarding fiends. Seed packets sounds like a beautiful alternative that I would love to see people bringing the same sort of heart-racing fascination to. Even collectibles made of environmentally friendly materials.
Yep, IGA gave up charging for bags because people only bought as much as they could carry. But there’s a greater hypocrisy in all of this. Supermarkets use massive amounts of plastic packaging but make no attempt to use alternatives. Paper bags instead of all those bags on a roll in the fruit and veg sections would be a start but they probably cost more. Charging for bags at the check out makes money, so there you have it.
Correct, supermarkets do use lots of plastic in their packaging.
But guess what, so does everyone.
Who needs the shoe box?
Who needs the plastic bag from the fashion shop.
Who needs all the wrapping on an Apple product?
So yes, supermarkets can and should reduce their use of plastics/packaging, but so should everyone.
https://www.change.org/p/please-stop-coles-giving-out-plastic-junk?recruiter=483470702&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
https://www.futurelandfill.org/
Go hug a tree.
Go hug a tree.
So what’s new? People now use more of the light bags for their vegetables and meat. Pre prepared sweet corn, beans, carrots etc still use up vast amounts of plastic. Do we really need to put bananas in a plastic bag? Why can’t we recycle polystyrene foam?
Let’s stop the Green Watermelons whinging and put the money into recycling not prohibition.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/massive-warehouses-filled-with-recyclable-materials-that-no-one-wants-20190808-p52f2o.html
We have a recycling problem. Let’s focus on reducing single-use items!
Both stores provide a simple choice ‘are you collecting?’ with every transaction. If you are against the campaign your response is simply ‘no’. Move on
Unfortunately, the problems we walk past are the problems we permit. I think we have an opportunity to do better. I already choose to say ‘no thanks’ but one person’s action is not enough.
The frenzy of trading that is going on (as documented in many mainstream media outlets) is evidence of the wild fascination that has driven more sales for these supermarkets. We can encourage more footsteps using other techniques, beyond enticing sales with single-use plastics that will go on to poison our oceans and our future generations.
Or just come up with a collectable promotion that doesn’t involve plastic. Pitched 2 concepts to Woolworths that are paper based collectables for massive sporting events they already sponsor over summer in Australia. No response …
Bring back back yard incinerators no garbage in the ocean then!
But more co2 and dangerous chemicals in the atmosphere contributing to climate change. There is another way.
‘Consumers, and the planet itself, can see through the sheer veil of greenwashing.’ hmmmm….the success of Little Shop suggests otherwise.
With 5G comming you can forget about trying to save anything. 5G will kill our environment big time. And people.