Woolworths announces major change to its reusable bags

There have been significant adjustments made to Woolworths' reusable bags. The store worked with Warumungu, Wombaya lady Jessica Johnson, the founder of First Nations owned and run creative studio Nungala Creative, to design their new line of grocery bags as a way to honor and assist Australian communities.

The Art Bag, made from at least 70 per cent recycled materials, features three colorful designs by Jessica Johnson, titled ‘Fresh as’, ‘Journey Lines’ and ‘Landtracks’.

Jessica Johnson’s art appears on Woolies’ new Art Bag range. Credit: Woolworths

Johnson said she was “super excited” for the opportunity to design the new Woolies bags.

“Food really is my happy place! You know life is good when you’re eating well,” she said.

“Through some recent struggles with health issues I have a better understanding of my body’s relationship with food.

“Eating well is so necessary for the mind, body and spirit. It’s the catalyst in coming together for the mob in my life.

”The artwork itself is an expression of that joy of eating. We call it the food dance!

“It’s like an uncontrollable happiness that turns into a little groove in anticipation of chowing down.

“Each bag has its own flavour but is essentially a celebration of food in its own unique way.”

The Yothu Yindi Foundation

The Yothu Yindi Foundation supports education for Yolngu people in Northeast Arnhem land in the Northern Territory. Credit: Leicolhn McKellar/Supplied

To promote the education of Yolngu First Nations students in Northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Woolworths has teamed with the Yothu Yindi Foundation, one of Australia's top not-for-profit organizations, in addition to launching the Art Bag.

The supermarket behemoth has made an initial donation of $100,000 to the foundation in support of its objective to enable Yolngu and other Indigenous peoples the same opportunities and standard of living as non-Indigenous Australians.

With junior, secondary, tertiary, and vocational education facilities, the Garma Institute will be a premier educational hub in Northeast Arnhem Land thanks to this grant.

CEO of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Denise Bowden said the Garma Institute will be a “game-changer” for the region.

“This is a new model in education, one that properly integrates Yolngu knowledge and learning into the curriculum, and we know that it works,” she said.

“The Dhupuma Barker junior school in Gunyangara, which will soon celebrate its second birthday, is already achieving outstanding attendance rates, and a team of students from the school recently qualified for the international school robotics championships in the US.

“We’re now finalising the secondary and tertiary components of the project, to complete the learning life-cycle and improve educational and employment outcomes for Yolngu of all ages.”

‘Give back to the community.’

Woolies’ Art Bag now available in stores across Australia. $2 a bag. Credit: Woolworths.

The $2 bags are larger than the current 99 cent green Woolies bags and are now available to purchase in stores across the nation.

Woolworths managing director Natalie Davis said she is pleased to be able to showcase the talents of Australian artists, like Jessica Johnson, and promote a worthy Australian cause with the Yothu Yindi Foundation.

“We know that the vast majority of our customers already bring their own reusable bags to shop, which is the very best outcome for the environment, and the new range gives customers even more reusable options to choose from when they shop,“ she said.

“As we worked to bring the new Art Bag range to life, we remained focused on our goal to create a collection of reusable bags that could give back to the community.

“In working with the Yothu YindiFoundation, we’re proud to support their work in creating an education hub for Yolngu students in Northeast Arnhem land.”

TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS