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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEco 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group said that the new mannequins are also lighter than the traditional fibreglass mannequins making them easier to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
W.Edit stores launched in 2022 and are a new compact format store for the group with more curated stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On this front, Woolworths partnered with DSV and Everlectric to roll out electric panel vans (EVs) to deliver customers\u2019 online purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n