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Ritchies acknowledges the mutual responsibility of all parts of society to care for our environment and to aim for protection from the adverse effects human activities can impose. Specifically, we recognise our duty to the wider community to minimise our own environmental impact as well as provide a more environmentally responsible service and product range.


Degradable Plastic Bags

Ritchies are now using only degradable checkout bags in all Ritchies Supermarkets and Liquor Stores.

Degradable bags are designed to break down in landfill conditions and are a better solution for the environment. They have a time controlled additive which means the bags start to break down in 18 months after manufacture – not hundreds of years!

The degradation process is activated by a time controlled additive, and is accelerated by exposure to oxygen, heat or mechanical pressure – all present in landfill conditions.

Degradable bags can still be reused as a bin liner or as a carry bag, and can also be returned to your Ritchies store to be recycled.

The waste hierarchy promotes Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – so first remember to bring your own reusable bags or refuse a bag if you don’t need one. Calico bags, green bags and other alternatives are stocked in all Ritchies supermarkets.

However rest assured that if you forget to bring your own reusable bags, the checkout bags used by Ritchies will degrade and won’t be around in hundreds of years.


Our Environment Strategy:

Provide a more environmentally responsible service and product range.

Ritchies supermarkets stock a range of products with reduced impact on the environment.
These include products:
• organically produced
• made from recycled materials
• with packaging made from recycled materials
• accredited animal cruelty free
• reducing waste through their use.

Ritchies has also developed a simple ticket label scheme to help identification of these products and assist the customer in making more informed purchasing decisions.

The green "Enviro-stamp" shelf tickets can be found on a range of products in each store and highlight Ritchies' environmentally friendly product recommendations.


Reduce our own impact through improved environmental practice at each of our locations as a part of our duty to the wider community.

Ritchies Supermarkets offer plastic bag recycling bins for customers to return their used Ritchies bags.

Ritchies is working towards ways to minimise waste at all of our stores through adopting a Reduce, Reuse and Recycle approach.

All Ritchies supermarkets provide a service to customers to return their used supermarket bags for recycling. Additionally, all Ritchies liquor stores provide a service for customers to return natural wine and champagne corks for recycling. The corks are donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation and help raise money.

In the year 2001, Ritchies reduced plastic bag usage across all stores by an amazing 15%. Ritchies strongly encourages the use of re-useable calico bags in place of plastic bags and every Ritchies store stocks calico bags and strings bags for customers to purchase.

At various times throughout the year, Ritchies runs promotions to encourage calico bag usage. An example of this is the calico bag competition where customers who use their own bags are eligible to win a calico bag filled with environmentally friendly products.

 


 
 

Communicate our environmental initiatives to Ritchies staff and the wider community.

Ritchies works together with a number of different organisations to help achieve our environmental objectives. Building partnerships is an integral part of developing a greater responsibility to the environment and the community.

"En-ritching" - Ritchies'environmental newsletter - is produced to keep staff updated on the progress of our environmental initiatives throughout the stores. It also provides information about general environmental initiatives, and about the environmental activities of our other stakeholders.

 

 

"We don't inherit the earth from our parents,
we are borrowing it from our children."

(Kenyan Proverb)

 

 

 

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  The Ritchies Wine Club is for people who appreciate fine wines, spirits and premium beer. Members enjoy numerous benefits including special price opportunities, limited offers, and the chance to attend outings, tastings and dinners. Find out more!
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