Cherise

=Sustainability= Environmental sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. By becoming sustainable, we can reduce our environmental footprint and help preserve the world’s precious natural resources.

We read from the data that for these small trips they used the reusable ‘green’ bags but for the big shop they reverted to plastic singlet bags. There is a reticence to carry the 10 reusable ‘green’ bags required to do the big shop. Most thought that biodegradable bags were beneficial, but a small percentage (about 20 %) determined that while biodegradable bags were better than what had been offered previously, these bags still produced litter. A number of interviewees declared that they normally use the green bags but forget to bring them. Some interviewees identified Coles Supermarkets (a major national grocery chain) as refusing to pack the ‘green’ bags, which I assume represents concern by staff about back strain from the load that the bigger bags carry. The current counters or check outs are designed for the use of the singlet bag which holds fewer items, therefore lighter. Staff have to lift the bigger bags approxiamately 400mm to the top level of the counter for the customer to collect. The client Ritchies on accepting to work with us on this research seemed most concerned with customer sentiment about speed of unpacking trolleys and loading the reusable bags. The infrastructure of their check out counter is designed to facilitate the packing of the singlet plastic shopping bag, not the larger ‘green’ bags. The research indicated that approximately 80 % indicated that they did not notice delays, and a larger percentage did not mind the extra time taken, they were more concerned with the time taken to use electronic funds transfer or ‘cards’

. **Some 63% identified problems moving or manoeuvring the trolley, some found them hard to remove from the stacks of ‘parked’ trolleys, while others predominantly had difficulties steering the trolley.** **While the majority had no problems loading and unloading the trolley a small proportion of 10 % identified difficulty in this function.** **Generally few could identify any positive traits of the existing design of the shopping trolley besides the load capacity assisting the function of shopping.** **When asked what would improve the trolley generally most identified maintenance such as faulty wheels and cleanliness as issues of main concerns.**
 * Innovations suggested were bigger and better wheels, and brakes, but steering was a definite concern expressed by most. When fully loaded the trolley may carry 50+kg. and thus put pressure on body joints, particularly the knees.**