There’s something different about Woolworths’ new mannequins

Retail group Woolworths says it is rolling out new “eco mannequins” in South Africa, using the environmentally-friendly display units in its new W.Edit stores and 80 selected other stores across the country so far.

The group said that the new mannequins are a part of its wider shift to achieve zero packaging waste-to-landfill and boost eco-friendly practices.

“Eco mannequins, also known as sustainable mannequins, are a recent innovation in the
retail industry that is gaining popularity internationally among environmentally conscious
consumers and retailers alike.

“We are delighted to be the first large retailer in South Africa to make such a significant investment in them, and going forward, we will continue to add more into our stores,” the group said.

The Woolies eco-mannequins are made from used coffee bean sacks that are recycled and mixed with a plant-based resin to bind the fibres; water-based paints are also used, ensuring that they are 100% biodegradable and recyclable, as well as safer to make.

The group said that the new mannequins are also lighter than the traditional fibreglass mannequins making them easier to handle.

W.Edit stores launched in 2022 and are a new compact format store for the group with more curated stock.

Woolworths has been on a years-long strategy to phase out unnecessary single-use plastics at its stores and for all packaging to be reusable and/or recyclable.

Since announcing the strategy, the retailer has also removed single-use plastic straws, utensils, lollipop sticks and cotton bud stems, as well as made significant packaging improvements.

In October 2022 the group hit the milestone of dropping all single-use plastic shopping bags at all of its food stores in the country.

The group has also launched initiatives like the “bring a bag leave a bag” system that encourages the sharing of reusable bags, while also pushing further with its Woolies Dash same-day delivery services to encourage home shopping.

On this front, Woolworths partnered with DSV and Everlectric to roll out electric panel vans (EVs) to deliver customers’ online purchases.

In May 2023, the retailer said it had added 41 fully-electric panel vans to its delivery fleet to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability in the retail industry.

These vehicles can drive up to 300km per charge, with the Woolies online electric delivery vehicles driving an average of 150km to 220km per day.

Read: Woolworths goes electric for online deliveries in South Africa