Methodology

By the end of June, Woolworths and most Australian major supermarkets will have stopped handing out the use of plastic bags. Woolworths is phasing out lightweight plastic shopping bags with an aim of preventing the plastic bags to find their way into oceans and landfills. But is the ban welcomed by the shoppers or will it phase a resistance that could eventually deep into Woolworths sales, revenues and profitability (Babin, and Zikmund, 2015).

What is being phased out and what isn’t?

The banning will concentrate on lightweight plastic bags, plastic straws and removal of the bags from the hands of the consumer. However, the company is advocating some alternatives which include;

• A 99c canvas bag
• A 15c very thick plastic reusable bag
• A $2.49 reusable chiller bag

The consumers are fully behind the bag and Woolworths has been able to convince the consumers it is for the good of their environments and the sea. It is however encouraging the consumers to carry their own bags preferably made from non-plastic material or a reusable canvas material (Burns, Bush, and Sinha, 2014).

However there is a backlash by some customers who are furious of the ban. Customers have been told to carry their own plastic bags but some have not. Customers with the bag were shouting down those who don’t have the green bag.

A research is designed and prepared on three basis which include; exploratory, explanation and description. In exploring, the researcher has to explore the basis of the ban of plastics for both Coles and Woolworth’s supermarket. Explanation, the researcher delves deeper on to why the research is being conducted in the particular area (Hair Jr, and Lukas, 2014). He delves into the unknown realms of the subject. In the research, the researcher chooses the descriptive design of the subject.

The researcher chooses the design description of the subject which helps in shedding light to different concepts, proposals, theories and findings on the plastic bag ban and the outrage by Woolworths. The outrage and uproar behind this is the large scale use of plastics for shopping and the resulting effect to customers shopping.

Inductive and deductive approach are used by the researchers in conducting the research. Inductive approach is when the researcher uses new facts and induces the facts, concepts and theories in the research. Deductive approach on the other hand is when the researcher deduces some facts, findings and relevant conclusion from the research. For execution of the research, the researcher uses the deductive approach in the research.

Data Analysis

From the outrage of banning of plastic bags, the researcher deduces recommendations and conclusions which resulted from the decisions hastily conducted by Woolworth’s supermarkets. The approach also helps the researcher to formulate new hypothesis for assessing productivity of the organization after the ban of the plastic bags.

From the ban of the plastic bags, the betterment of the sea and the natural habitats on land are affected positively. However, a sample size will have to be taken due to time limitation and financial constraints for the whole research. It is done in three techniques which are simple, random and probability. Simple techniques involves samples being collected without any basic criteria (Lamberton, and Stephen, 2016). Random sampling techniques also does not follow any criteria in selecting sample size. Probability sampling techniques, the researcher uses a certain criteria in selecting the sample size to select in a population. In this research, the researcher will select the probability sampling technique.

Probability sampling will enable the researcher in averting potential bias in data collection. The technique also enhances transparency within the research while ensuring security and safety of the respondents.

Data is the most important part of any research. Primary and secondary methods are used in collecting data for the research. The methods are further categorized as either qualitative or quantitative methods. Primary data is collected through questionnaires, interviews, telephone calls etc. secondary data is collected through government websites, books, journals and others. In the research on the ban of plastics in Woolworth’s both set of data collection methods will be used such as primary and secondary data collection methods.

Using both methods of collection of data ensures that every information required is collected without bias. Time and financial constraints are factors determining the methods of data collection used. Awareness and enhancing knowledge is used in the research.

The data collected is analyzed through both primary and secondary data methods. The methods are also divided into both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Primary quantitative data analysis is through interviews and survey questions. The responses are depicted in graphs, charts and tables. These leads to acceptable recommendations and conclusions. In this research, primary quantitative methods of data collection will be used (Lewis, 2015). Closed and open ended questions will be used in a questionnaire to gain insights from staff towards the ban of the plastic bags. The questionnaire are as follows;

Questionnaire

Q1. For how have you worked for Woolworth’s ?

• 4 months
• 7 months
• 10  months
• 1 year

Findings

Q2. What do you think about the alternative methods of supermarket packaging?

• Very Good
• Somehow Good
• Good
• Satisfactory
• No comment
• Bad

Q3: Do you know why the ban on plastics has been initiated and effected?

• Yes
• No

Q4: Do you think management is handling the outrage in appropriate manner?

• Yes
• No

Q5: Do you think the relationship and the partnership of Woolworth with environmentalist group about plastic bag banning decisions

• Highly prospective
• Prospective
• Neutral
• Retrospective
• Highly retrospective

Q6: What are the issues, which you are facing due to the sudden plastic ban from the organizations?

• Carrying separate bags for shopping
• Difficulty in carrying the purchased products

Q7: In the current situation, when the reputation of the organizations is at stake, will you continue shopping in the near future?

• Yes
• No
• Neutral

Q8: Do you think pre-ban psychological contract was a warning to the organization in terms of such an outrage?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe
• Neutral

Q9: How far do you think this decision would prove fruitful in preserving the ecological diversity of the environment?

• Highly fruitful
• Fruitful
• Neutral
• Unproductive
• Highly unproductive

Q10. What recommendations do you propose for restoring the normalcy in case of the organizations?

• Survey and feedbacks from the clients and the customers
• Discounts, schemes and offers on products
• Adopting special packaging means 

Ethics is important in terms of executing the research in terms of executing the research in an efficient and effective manner. Moreover, it helps the researcher in gaining the trust, loyalty and dependence of the respondents. Applying Data Protection Act (1998) enables the researcher to maintain the safety, security and privacy of the responses generated by the samples

Incorporating Data Protection Act within the research would help the researcher to assure the respondents that their responses would be used solely for the purpose of research instead of commercialization. Along with this, exposing a liberal approach towards the comfort of the samples would reflect his ethical approach (Malhotra and Peterson, 2014). Acknowledging the sources would help the researcher to avert the instances of plagiarism and collusion. Conscious approach towards these aspects would help the researcher to produce reliable and valid research.

Gantt chart

Task name	Duration	Start	Finish
Research proposal project time	Week 1-3	Week 1	Week 3
Selection of the topic	Week 1-2	Week 1	Week 2
Approval of the selected topic	Week 1-2	Week 1	Week 2
Identifying the sources of the secondary data	Week 2	Week 2	Week 2
Commencing of the secondary data collection	Week 3-4	Week 3	Week 4
Completing the data collection process	Week 4	Fourth week	Fourth week
Submitting the draft	Week 4-5	Week 4	Week 5
First round evaluation	Week 5-8	Week 5	Week 8
Final submission	Week 8-9	Week 8	Week 9

Table 2: Gantt chart

(Source: created by the researcher)

Australia : in the fall of 2004, the world’s first biodegradable bags for bread were launched in Australia. A complete ban on the use of plastic bags since 2003 has been introduced due to the numerous cases of plugging of sewerage and the overlapping of river beds leading to floods.

Since April 2016 Australia has introduced a complete ban on disposable plastic bags. In addition, Australia became the first country in the world to ban the production and sale of disposable plastic dishes on its territory (Quinlan, Babin, Carr, and Griffin, 2019). According to the new law, the ban should enter into force from 2020. Thus, Australia has become a leader in the fight against environmental pollution plastic. Australia: one of the largest food retailers in Australia, “wools” announced that it ceases distributing free-of-charge packets in all 62 hypermarkets of the country since November 15, 2017

Limitations

Now for the purchased goods, buyers must have reusable bags or bio packets. Municipal processing plants are the most promising method of neutralizing solid household waste, causing the least damage to the environment. The main products of solid domestic waste processing are compost, which is used in agriculture as fertilizer, and an uncompensated residue (stones, clay crocks, plastics, glass), which is a neutralized mass and accounting for up to 30% of the original waste. The processing plants for processing household waste waste products operate in many cities, and the complete recycling of garbage allows the city with a population of 1 million people to receive up to 1500 tons per year of metal and nearly 45,000 tons of compost per year. In agricultural areas, plants for processing old polyethylene film are being built. For example, from the collected over a year (more than 1500 tons), cleaned from dirt, the film receives 1,300 tons of pipes, which are used in melioration and in large-panel houses. In Japan, a country of high domestic culture, the collection of polyethylene waste into specialized containers is arranged. Polyethylene waste is then pressed and out of them in the Pacific, islands are built for the disposal of currently unrecoverable wastes (eg nuclear waste).

The law on the ban on the use of disposable plastic bags was signed by the Minister of environment. The reason for this decision was the negative impact of polyethylene on the environment.

Until February 3, 2019, the transition period will operate. During this time, stores should begin replacing plastic bags with biodegradable ones. In July, the Australian company Woolworths announced that it would refuse plastic tubules and disposable spoons in its amusement parks. The company will also stop using plastic bags and disposable dishes. Several large international companies have already announced the rejection of plastic tubes

The plastic is made of polypropylene and polystyrene. These substances pollute the environment. Especially from plastic waste the world ocean suffers (Smith, 2015). Due to pollution of the seas, the material is increasingly found inside animals: for example, it is swallowed by dolphins and seals.Waste components consisting of such chemical elements as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, aluminum, iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, titanium in concentrations not exceeding their content in the main types of soils are practically harmless components with an average score (Xi) of 4, and therefore a hazard ratio for the WCS (Wi) of 1,000,000

Waste of polyethylene in the form of a film. The standard for the formation of waste polyethylene in the form of a film is calculated on the basis of data on the planned consumption of materials, the amount of material in one package, the average weight of one polyethylene package from the material. 7-9% of household waste are plastic bags. Together with plastic bottles and packaging film, they account for 40% of the total volume of household garbage (Sargeant, and MACQUILLIN, 2016). In the minds of people, the plastic bag still remains affordable and moderately convenient for carrying anything (well, what is often torn and thrown away). True, until you think about how polyethylene interacts with the environment.

Conclusion

Packaging of synthetic polymers is not degraded in vivo, and when burned, it emits such poisons as dioxins and furans. The plastic bag is in use for about half an hour, and then remains on the ground with garbage, decomposing for 400 years (Zikmund, D’Alessandro,. and Babin, 2017). The production of polyethylene consumes 4% of the world’s oil. it pollutes the environment – the fourth part of the water surface is covered with floating plastic debris. Annually, more than a million seabirds, whales, seals and turtles die from swallowing or tangling in plastic debris. 

References

Babin, B.J. and Zikmund, W.G., 2015. Exploring marketing research. Cengage Learning.

Burns, A.C., Bush, R.F. and Sinha, N., 2014. Marketing research (Vol. 7). Harlow: Pearson.

Hair Jr, J.F. and Lukas, B., 2014. Marketing research (Vol. 2). McGraw-Hill Education Australia.

Lamberton, C. and Stephen, A.T., 2016. A thematic exploration of digital, social media, and mobile marketing: Research evolution from 2000 to 2015 and an agenda for future inquiry. Journal of Marketing, 80(6), pp.146-172.

Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Health promotion practice, 16(4), pp.473-475.

Malhotra, N.K. and Peterson, M., 2014. Basic marketing research. Pearson.

Quinlan, C., Babin, B., Carr, J. and Griffin, M., 2019. Business research methods. South Western Cengage.

Sargeant, A. and MACQUILLIN, I., 2016. Marketing for nonprofit organisations. In The Marketing Book (pp. 555-576). Routledge.

Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.

Zikmund, W.G., D’Alessandro, S., Winzar, H., Lowe, B. and Babin, B., 2017. Marketing Research: Asia-Pacific Edition. Cengage AU.