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Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jay-l-zagorsky-152952">Jay L. Zagorsky</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/boston-university-898">Boston University</a> Five out of the six <a href="https://www.oag.com/blog/biggest-airlines-in-the-us">biggest U.S. airlines</a> have <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/05/delta-is-the-latest-airline-to-raise-its-checked-bag-fee.html">raised their checked bag fees</a> since January 2024. Take American Airlines. In 2023, it cost US$30 to check a standard bag in with the airline; <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2024/02/20/american-airlines-bag-fees-mileage-earning/72669245007/">today, as of March 2024, it costs $40</a> at a U.S. airport – a whopping 33% increase. As a <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/">business school</a> <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/profile/jay-zagorsky/">professor who studies travel</a>, I’m often asked why airlines alienate their customers with baggage fees instead of bundling all charges together. <a href="https://www.vox.com/2015/4/16/8431465/airlines-carry-on-bags">There are</a> <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/2023/06/21/bag-fees-will-stay-a-while-cruising-altitude/70338849007/">many reasons</a>, but an important, often overlooked cause is buried in the U.S. tax code. <h2>A tax-law loophole</h2> Airlines pay the federal government <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-49/subpart-D">7.5% of the ticket price</a> when <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/tax/library/aircraft-club-nov-2023-air-transport-excise-tax-rates-for-2024.html">flying people domestically, alongside other fees</a>. The airlines dislike these charges, with their <a href="https://www.airlines.org/dataset/government-imposed-taxes-on-air-transportation/">trade association arguing</a> that they boost the cost to the consumer of a typical air ticket by around one-fifth. However, the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-49/subpart-D/section-49.4261-8">specifically excludes baggage</a> from the 7.5% transportation tax as long as “the charge is separable from the payment for the transportation of a person and is shown in the exact amount.” This means if an airline charges a combined $300 to fly you and a bag round-trip within the U.S., it owes $22.50 in tax. If the airline charges $220 to fly you plus separately charges $40 each way for the bag, then your total cost is the same — but the airline only owes the government $16.50 in taxes. Splitting out baggage charges saves the airline $6. Now $6 might not seem like much, but it can add up. Last year, passengers took <a href="https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Data_Elements.aspx?Data=1">more than 800 million trips on major airlines</a>. Even if only a fraction of them check their bags, that means large savings for the industry. How large? The government has <a href="https://www.bts.dot.gov/topics/airlines-and-airports/baggage-fees-airline-2023">tracked revenue from bag fees</a> for decades. In 2002, airlines charged passengers a total of $180 million to check bags, which worked out to around 33 cents per passenger. Today, as any flyer can attest, bag fees are a lot higher. Airlines collected over 40 times more money in bag fees last year than they did in 2002. When the full data is in for 2023, <a href="https://www.bts.dot.gov/baggage-fees">total bag fees</a> will likely top $7 billion, which is about $9 for the average domestic passenger. <a href="https://viewfromthewing.com/the-real-reason-airlines-charge-checked-bag-fees-and-its-not-what-you-think">By splitting out the cost of bags</a>, airlines avoided paying about half a billion dollars in taxes just last year. In the two decades since 2002, flyers paid a total of about $70 billion in bag fees. This means separately charging for bags saved airlines about $5 billion in taxes. <iframe id="88MYD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/88MYD/2/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> It seems clear to me that tax savings are one driver of the unbundling of baggage fees because of a quirk in the law. The U.S. government doesn’t apply the 7.5% tax to <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-49/subpart-D/section-49.4261-3">international flights that go more than 225 miles</a> beyond the nation’s borders. Instead, there are fixed <a href="https://www.airlines.org/dataset/government-imposed-taxes-on-air-transportation">international departure and arrival taxes</a>. This is why major airlines charge $35 to $40 <a href="https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/baggage/checked-baggage-policy.jsp">for bags if you’re flying domestically</a>, but don’t charge a bag fee when you’re flying to Europe or Asia. <h2>Do travelers get anything for that money?</h2> This system raises an interesting question: Do baggage fees force airlines to be more careful with bags, since customers who pay more expect better service? To find out, I checked with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which has been <a href="https://www.bts.gov/content/mishandled-baggage-reports-filed-passengers-largest-us-air-carriersa">tracking lost luggage for decades</a>. For many years, it calculated the number of mishandled-baggage reports per thousand airline passengers. The government’s data showed mishandled bags peaked in 2007 with about seven reports of lost or damaged luggage for every thousand passengers. That means you could expect your luggage to go on a different trip than the one you are taking about once every 140 or so flights. By 2018, that estimate had fallen to once every 350 flights. In 2019, the government <a href="https://www.bts.gov/topics/airlines-and-airports/number-30a-technical-directive-mishandled-baggage-amended-effective-jan">changed how it tracks</a> mishandled bags, calculating figures based on the total number of bags checked, rather than the total number of passengers. The new data show about six bags per thousand checked get lost or damaged, which is less than 1% of checked bags. Unfortunately, the data doesn’t show improvement since 2019. Is there anything that you can do about higher bag fees? Complaining to politicians probably won’t help. In 2010, two senators <a href="https://www.nj.com/business/2010/04/us_senators_present_bill_to_ba.html">tried to ban bag fees</a>, and their bill went nowhere. Given that congressional action failed, there’s a simple way to avoid higher bag fees: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/packing-expert-travel-world-handbag/index.html">travel light</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/opinion/carry-on-packing-airlines-lost-luggage.html">don’t check any luggage</a>. It may sound tough not to have all your belongings when traveling, but it might be the best option as bag fees take off.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225857/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jay-l-zagorsky-152952">Jay L. Zagorsky</a>, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/boston-university-898">Boston University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-airlines-charge-so-much-for-checked-bags-this-obscure-rule-helps-explain-why-225857">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

Amazing money-saving hack hidden in Coles and Woolies Christmas shopping bags

Woolworths and Coles have released specially designed paper bags ahead of the Christmas period, with many praising their multi-purpose usage. The 25 cent bags feature a Christmas design, and are meant to be cut open and reused as wrapping paper for Christmas presents. Shoppers have been sharing their delight at the discovery on social media, with many praising the supermarket giants for encouraging recycling. A member of the North Shore Mums Facebook group shared the revelation, writing, "PSA: the Christmas woolies bags are designed to be cut open and used as wrapping paper." Both Coles and Woolworths bags include cutting lines to help those planning to use them as wrapping this festive season. They added an edit to the post explaining the bags could also be cut into squares around the decorations and used as gift tags. Other alternatives to pricey wrapping paper include tea towels, paper that has been decorated by children in the family or making the most out of reusable gift bags which can be collected and saved for the next occasion. With many families anxious of excess spending during the festive period in the face of the ongoing cost of living crisis, the reusable bags are set to be a welcome hack for those trying to be money conscious this Christmas. Image credits: 9Honey <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28px; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">

Money & Banking

Why do I have to take my laptop out of the bag at airport security?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Anyone who has travelled by air in the past ten years will know how stressful airports can be. You didn’t leave home as early as you should have. In the mad rush to get to your gate, the security screening seems to slow everything down. And to add insult to injury, you’re met with the finicky request: “laptops out of bags, please”. But what does your laptop have to do with security? <h2>The day that changed air travel forever</h2> Airport security changed dramatically after the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11 2001. Before 9/11, you could pass through security with a carry-on bag full of everything you might need for your holiday, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/10/1035131619/911-travel-timeline-tsa">including a knife</a> with a four-inch blade. Indeed, that’s how the 9/11 attackers brought their <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/10/1035131619/911-travel-timeline-tsa">weapons on board</a>. After 9/11, screening processes around the world changed overnight. In the US, private security contractors being paid a minimum wage were swapped out for a federalised program with highly trained security personnel. Anything that could be <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00654/full">considered a weapon</a> was confiscated. Around the world, travellers were suddenly required to <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6hBnJ-1hRp0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA86&dq=why+do+I+have+to+take+my+shoes+off+at+airport+security&ots=o6JIFHJzF1&sig=B6azb6xqN2uxM9CP-VZdfyt3Ag0#v=onepage&q=why%20do%20I%20have%20to%20take%20my%20shoes%20off%20at%20airport%20security&f=false">remove their shoes</a>, belts and outerwear, and take out their phones, laptops, liquids and anything else that could be used as part of an improvised explosive device. This lasted for several years. Eventually, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212478013000944">more advanced</a> screening methods were developed to effectively identify certain threats. Today, some countries don’t require you to remove your shoes when passing through security. So why must you still take your laptop out? <h2>Airport scanners have come a long way</h2> The machine your bags and devices pass through is an X-ray machine. The main reason you have to remove your laptop from your bag is because its <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/why-do-i-have-to-remove-my-laptop-from-my-bag-at-the-airport-xray-machine-20170320-gv1vqs.html">battery</a> and other mechanical components are too dense for X-rays to penetrate effectively – especially if the scanning system is old. The same goes for power cords and other devices such as tablets and cameras. With these items in your bag, security officials can’t use the screened image to determine whether a risk is present. They’ll have to flag the bag for a physical search, which slows everything down. It’s easier if all devices are removed in the first place. A laptop inside a bag can also shield other items from view that may be dangerous. Scanning it separately reveals its internal components on the screen. In some cases you might be asked to turn it on to prove it’s an actual working computer. With newer multi-view scanning technology, security officials can view the bag from multiple angles to discern whether something is being covered up, or made to look like something else. For instance, people have tried to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212478013000944">mix gun parts</a> with other components in an effort to pass checked baggage screening. Some airports have upgraded <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/no-more-removing-liquids-and-gels-laptops-at-melbourne-airport-as-new-scanners-installed-20191002-h1ijdf.html">3D scanning</a> that allows travellers to pass their bags through security without having to remove their laptops. If you’re not asked to take out your laptop, it’s probably because one of these more expensive systems is being used. Nonetheless, amping up the technology won’t remove the lag caused by airport screenings. Ultimately, the reason these are a major choke point is because of the speed at which staff scan the imagery (which dictates the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212478013000944">speed of the conveyor belt</a>). Unless we find a way to automate the entire process and run it with minimal human supervision, you can expect delays. <h2>What about body scanners?</h2> But your bags aren’t the only thing getting scanned at airport security. You are too! The tall frame you walk through is a <a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airport-security3.htm">metal detector</a>. Its purpose is to uncover any weapons or other illegal objects that may be concealed under your clothes. Airport metal detectors use non-ionising radiation, which means they don’t emit X-rays. The larger body scanners, on the other hand, are a type of X-ray machine. These can be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212478013000944">active or passive</a>, or a combination of both. Passive scanners simply detect the natural radiation emitted by your body and any objects that might be concealed. Active scanners emit low-energy radiation to create a scan of your body, which can then be analysed. The kind of machine you walk through will depend on where in the world you are. For instance, one type of active body scanner that emits X-rays in what’s called “backscatter technology” was once <a title="https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/backscatter-x-ray.htm" href="https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/backscatter-x-ray.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">used widely</a> in the US, but is no longer used. It’s also banned in <a title="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/travelsecure/passenger-screening" href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/travelsecure/passenger-screening" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> and <a title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2011/11/15/europe-bans-airport-body-scanners-over-health-and-safety-concerns/" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2011/11/15/europe-bans-airport-body-scanners-over-health-and-safety-concerns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the European Union</a>, where only non-ionising technology can be used. Another type of scanner emits lower-energy <a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/backscatter-machines-vs-millimeter-wave-scanners.htm">millimetre waves</a>, instead of X-rays, to image the passenger. Millimetre wave frequencies are considered to be non-ionising radiation. <h2>AI in our airports</h2> AI seems to be all around us lately, and our airports are no exception. Advancements in AI systems stand to transform the future of airport security. For now, human reviewers are required to identify potential threats in scanned images. However, what if an advanced <a href="https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/artiificialintelligenceinsecuritycheck/article/">AI was trained</a> to do this using a database of images? It would do so in a fraction of the time. Some airports are already using advanced <a href="https://www.in-security.eu/index.php/editorial/the-future-of-airport-security-faster-smarter-safer">computed tomography</a> (CT) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/21/3d-body-scanners-at-australian-airports-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work">scanners</a> to produce high-definition 3D imagery. In the future, this technology could be further enhanced by AI to detect threats at a much faster rate. Hypothetically, CT scans could also be used for both humans and their baggage. Could this allow travellers to walk through a body scanner while carrying their bags? Possibly. Until then, you should probably try your best to leave the house on time.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209041/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, Professor/Head of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-have-to-take-my-laptop-out-of-the-bag-at-airport-security-209041">original article</a>.

Travel Tips

Aldi’s popular $50 travel item is back

Have you ever been so tired you wished you could roll out of bed and bring it with you? Well, this Aldi sleeping bag takes you one step closer to fulfilling your dream. The “One-Z wearable sleeping bag” is back by popular demand as part of Aldi’s Easter ‘Special Buys’ camping range. The onesie sleeping bag has arms, legs (with detachable feet), and even a hood so that you can become one with your sleeping bag. The $49.99 item is fully insulated, with an elastic waistband, dual zipper access, and side ventilation on the legs. It’s officially coming back in stores nationally on Saturday, March 25 and will be available in three sizes – small (suitable for someone around 155cm-169cm tall), medium (170cm-183cm) and large (184cm-200cm). The One-Z has been so popular for years that when a German retailer announced it was back in 2017, the post generated over 92,000 comments. “ALDI Australia: Please tell me these gems will be restocked!” one person commented after learning how quickly the item sold out. Aldi will also put up four-person tents for $169 and six-person tents for $199. Travel camp quilts, another camping essential that will keep you warm will also be up for grabs and this time for $10 cheaper than last year, now priced at $59.99. Some other items that will be up for sale include a portable hammock with a foldable frame for $79.99, and a solar portable charger that you can attach to your backpack for $59.99. The 28W mono folding solar charger will be able to charge your electronic gadgets including phones, tablets, power banks and some DSLRs. Images: Aldi

Travel Tips

What's inside the $126k Oscars gift bags?

For many actors, being awarded an Oscar is the greatest gift of their career. However, if an actor misses out in their category, it doesn't mean they'll walk away with nothing. The Oscars' gift bags have long been jam-packed with a selection of luxury goods, bringing the total value of the goodies well into the six-figure mark. This year is no exception, with the Los Angeles-based marketing company Distinctive Assets once again sending out its infamous "Everybody Wins" swag bags to the top nominees. The bags are worth an impressive $126,000 this year, with 26 nominees in acting and directing categories going home with the goodies. The celebrities will be offered thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods, and even more in vouchers for things like vacations and cosmetic procedures. Among the contents is a luxury getaway to Canada, which is said to be valued at $40,000, vouchers for cosmetic procedures like liposuction and micro-needling, luxury skincare and gourmet foods, and and "the first-ever chocolate box with a personalised video embedded inside." Also in the goodie bag is one unusual gift that has caused outrage with Indigenous Australian communities: a plot of land in regional areas of Australia. Pieces of Australia is one of a number of brands to pay $4,000 to secure a spot in the Oscars gift bag, offering a small parcel of land in outback Australia as part of its “Conservation Gift Packs”. The land parcels all come with a “certificate of land licence”, but the terms and conditions go on to state that “you have purchased a symbolic souvenir … of the land” and people who own a “pack” may not “take possession of the parcel; use the parcel; enter upon the parcel and/or the land without the licensor’s express written consent”. The digital “member’s handbook” which comes with the pack referenced the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) without the company's permission, causing outrage with the traditional owners of the land. In a statement, ICIN said it “has not granted permission for any of our information, publications or photos to be reproduced to support the Oscars ‘Goodie Bag’ or ‘Pieces of Australia’.” “The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network is a 100% Indigenous-owned charitable company owned by 23 Indigenous organisations across Australia,” it said. “ICIN is seeking legal advice regarding this matter and will be able to provide further statement once we have sought appropriate advice.” The Pieces of Australia founder, Niels Chaneliere, said the intention of his organisation was to provide “land licence agreements (where there is no land title transfer at any point) as novel/symbolic gifts for people around the world to engage and participate positively in conservation efforts”. Image credits: Getty Images

Movies

Here’s how you can bag a night at Bag End

While many visitors to New Zealand’s Hobbit movie set have gone there and back again, no-one has had the chance to stay overnight - until now that is. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Airbnb will be offering a few lucky fans the opportunity to spend the night at the original movie set. Winners will score one of three overnight stays at the set in Waikato, with access to the Hobbit Holes, Millhouse and The Green Dragon Inn, a private tour of the movie set, and an evening banquet in the Green Dragon - think beef and ale stew, fresh bread, chickens and ale. Two decades after the working farm caught the attention of Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, the farm’s owner Russell Alexander said he was excited to offer guests the experience of living like a Hobbit. “We’ve welcomed millions of passionate fans to the Hobbiton Movie Set, but never before has anyone had the opportunity to spend a night in Middle-earth,”he said. “I am delighted to share the beauty of my family’s farm and pleased to be hosting this iconic location on Airbnb for fans from around the world.” The three two-night stays will come with a four-guest limit and cost $NZ 10 ($AU 9.46) a night to mark the 10th anniversary. Each of the stays will take place on March 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. Unsurprisingly, there are some rules for the lucky guests who stay on-set, with plenty of references to the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings sagas, including “no unexpected parties”, “magical rings permitted, but keep them secret, keep them safe”, “straying far at night is discouraged, thanks to multiple troll sightings of late”, and “pony parking” available only at the Green Dragon Inn. To go in the running, applicants can request to book one of the stays from Wednesday December 14. Applicants must have a history of positive reviews on Airbnb, have an Airbnb profile and be over the age of 18. To enter, head <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/hobbiton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Images: Airbnb

Real Estate

Dog found hidden in carry-on bag at airport security

A US Transportation and Security Agency (TSA) officer has discovered a small dog stashed in a traveller's carry-on luggage. The animal was found in a backpack when going through the X-ray machine at the Dane County <a title="Airport " href="https://www.9news.com.au/airport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airport</a> in Wisconsin. TSA told a local news outlet that the passenger was unaware of the screening protocol and did not tell security officers about her dog. After an officer explained the proper process and confirmed she disclosed she was travelling with a pet to the airline, she proceeded to her gate to board her flight. TSA Great Lakes confirmed that the woman's error was an accident on social media, while alerting people to the proper flying rules. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Video: Here’s the proper way to travel with your pet. Note: This is a <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSA</a> PreCheck passenger traveling with a cat. If you think your pet will attempt an escape, ask to speak with a supervisor before removing the animal. Alternative screening options may be available. (2/2) <a href="https://t.co/NL2jNjni2l">pic.twitter.com/NL2jNjni2l</a> — TSA_GreatLakes (@TSA_GreatLakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA_GreatLakes/status/1600210121136537600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote> "A dog was accidentally sent through the X-ray @MSN_Airport this week," it tweeted. "When travelling with any animal, notify your airline and know their rules." "At the checkpoint, remove your pet from the bag and send all items, including the empty carrier, to be screened in the machine." It then uploaded a video showing "the proper way" to travel with pets. Image credits: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Prince Charles denies wrongdoing for reportedly accepting bags of cash

Prince Charles reportedly accepted a suitcase containing €1 million ($AUD 1.52 million) in cash from a Qatari sheikh in 2015, according to recent reports - and it is one of three payments that will be reviewed by the UK’s Charity Commission. According to The Sunday Times, the senior royal received a total of €3 million ($AUD 4.57 million) from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar, between 2011 and 2015. Clarence House has denied that there was any wrongdoing in Charles’ acceptance of the money as charity donations and said the money was “passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities who carried out the appropriate covenants and assured us that all the correct processes were followed”. On one occasion, Charles reportedly received €1 million in carrier bags from high-end grocer Fortnum & Mason. At another, in 2015, Charles accepted another €1 million in a holdall during a one-on-one meeting at Clarence House. Two advisors from the royal household reportedly counted the cash by hand, which was said to be made up of now-discontinued €500 notes, which earned the nickname “bin Laden” because of links to funding terrorism, per <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/prince-charles-denies-any-wrongdoing-over-bags-of-cash-claim/0face1c8-1ebb-4139-a91c-9c9aa0dee13c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a>. The money was understood to have been collected by private bank Coutts, with each payment being deposited into the accounts of the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund (PWCF). As the prince’s meetings with Hamad were private, they don’t appear in the Court Circular - the official record of court engagements - but they do raise questions about how much Charles knew about the cash and where it came from. Sir Ian Cheshire, the chairman of PWCF, said on Friday that “there was no failure of governance” in relation to the organisation receiving the funds. “At a few hours’ notice from The Sunday Times, we have checked into this event in the past, and confirm that the previous trustees of PWCF discussed the governance and donor relationship, (confirming that the donor was a legitimate and verified counterparty) and our auditors signed off on the donation after a specific enquiry during the audit. There was no failure of governance.” After confirming that he was referring to the 2015 payment, Sir Cheshire added: “I believe the same assurance applied to earlier donations and look forward to confirming that in due course.” Though there is no suggestion that the payments were illegal, a Charity Commission spokesperson said on Sunday that they will be reviewed by the Commission. “We are aware of reports about donations received by the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation,” they said in a statement. “We will review the information to determine whether there is any role for the Commission in this matter.” It comes as London police continue to investigate a separate allegation that the prince’s top aide, Michael Fawcett, offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure a knighthood and British citizenship if he donated to The Prince’s Foundation, another of Charles’ charities. Fawcett resigned from his role as chief executive of the foundation in light of the allegations. “We are disappointed not to have been given more time to look into this matter, which dates from a decade ago,” Clarence House said in relation to reports from The Sunday Times. “In the few hours we have had on a Saturday, we have confirmed that Charitable donations were received from sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, and these were passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed.” Image: @clarencehouse (Instagram)

Legal

Woman claims she was left with third degree burns from Woolworths product

A Queensland woman claims that has been left with horrifying third degree burns after a Woolworth’s popular buy exploded in the oven. Angela, who is a huge fan of the Bag n Bake because of its convenience, placed her dinner in the oven and went about her business. When it was time to take it out, she opened the oven and the bag exploded all over her arm. “It’s an oven-proof bag, it’s meant to go in the oven. But on this occasion, the bag just exploded open and the sauce that was in it came out,” she told <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/woolworths/queensland-grandmother-claims-popular-woolworths-deli-buy-exploded-causing-third-degree-burns-c-6161235" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. “The sugar in the marinade made it even hotter. It was so, so painful.” Angela immediately ran her arm under cold water and put burn cream on it before serving dinner. In shock at the nasty burn, Angela eventually went to the doctor who was unsure of how bad the burn was. “He put all this cream on it, non-stick gauze on it and then triple wrapped it so it would stay moist the whole time. A few days later, Angela went to her family doctor who told her to come back every two days to get it cleaned and redressed. Sharing photos to the Woolworths Facebook page, the supermarket requested Angela get in touch with them to help resolve the issue. However, Angela claims the worker who gave her the Bag n Bake did not seal it properly and there may have been a bad batch of bags. She said she was happy with the way Woolworths handled the incident, who she said will remain in touch to ensure she is okay. Angela is still feeling a bit miserable about the scar being in a noticeable place and that it won’t disappear. Warning: Photos can be viewed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/woolworths/posts/7288303804575021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> at reader’s discretion. Image: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

At-home dialysis for the cost of a bag of chips

<div> <div class="copy"> A new low-carbon-footprint dialysis treatment might soon be available for the cost of a bag of chips. Sydney-based start-up Ellen Medical Devices has received $427,000 in government funding to develop the award-winning <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.ellenmedical.com/the-device/" target="_blank">Ellen Medical Dialysis System</a>. <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="1.4 million people die every year in India because they cannot afford dialysis" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nF7vMdckIxc?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://cosmosmagazine.com" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> Dialysis replaces normal kidney function by purifying and cleaning the blood when kidneys alone can’t do it. It has been a common and effective treatment for kidney failure for 70 years but the rate of kidney failure is <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/geographical-health-data-australia/" target="_blank">increasing</a> globally. “The number of people needing treatment for kidney failure is predicted to double to over five million by 2030,” says Ellen Medical Managing Director John Knight, a kidney specialist and UNSW Sydney professor of medicine. “This is not only a preventable human tragedy but a significant market opportunity.” On top of this, dialysis costs around $85,000 per year. This might be covered by insurance in high-income countries, but the cost is prohibitive for many people in low income countries. In fact, 75% of people who require dialysis around the world can’t afford it, and face death as a result. “Families try the best they can to pay for the treatment and often they’ll suffer quite severe financial hardship,” says Knight. “They can often lose their house in an attempt to find the money for payment. “But in the end, they run out of money and the patient will die – not because the treatment doesn’t work, but just because they can’t afford it. “This lack of dialysis treatment is one of the big health inequities around the world.” The new funding will take the product through clinical trials to test how effective it will be as a low cost, low-carbon-footprint alternative to current dialysis. “We think that, while we are mainly aiming for people who are missing out in the poorest countries in the world, the opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint by a factor of 20 means that our system might be very attractive to Australian patients as well,” says Knight. <h2>How does dialysis work?</h2> Normally, a kidney filters out salts, waste and fluids from the blood, which will be excreted from the body as urine. A dialysis machine mimics this process. First, the machine slowly draws out blood from the body using a catheter. Then, a special fluid called dialysate is mixed with the blood to filter the waste products. The dialysate comes in a bag and is made of extra minerals and electrolytes – salts and sugars – and bicarb soda mixed with purified water. Any excess is washed down the drain with blood waste products. The newly cleaned blood is then pumped back into the body. Depending on the person, this needs to be done 3–5 times every 24 hours and can take up to 40 minutes each time. Every session requires a new bag of dialysate, which contributes to the huge cost of treatment. The only way to get the bags is pre-filled and delivered to your door – four bags a day can be up to 2 litres/2 kilograms, or 240kg of fluid delivered per month. The distance delivery trucks must travel to deliver monthly dialysate bags contributes to a high carbon footprint. <h2>The Ellen Medical Dialysis System</h2> Many good ideas come about because of simple competitions. “As a research institute we recognise this medical need, and we ran a global competition called the affordable balances prize,” says Knight. “We had entries from all over the world, and the [dialysis] technology that we’re developing [now] was the prize-winning entry.” The inventor and prize winner, Vincent Garvey, was working on domestic appliances in Shanghai when he came up with the idea and its underlying concept: instead of looking to complicated medical technology, why not model it on everyday items? “The concept is very, very simple,” says Knight. “The distiller that makes pure water [for the dialysate] is basically like a kettle on your kitchen bench to boil water for a cup of tea. “It’s got a few extra bells and whistles, but the technology is really like that of a kettle. We can mass produce it for the same sort of price as you might expect to pay for a good quality kettle in [an appliance store].” The second part of this innovation is bags that can be filled from home using the purified ‘kettle’ dialysate, instead of being frequently delivered pre-filled. “Our approach to manufacturing the bags is less like high-tech med manufacturing and more like food manufacturing,” says Knight. “The bags basically [just have] salt and sugar in them. So, if you think of how much it costs to make a bag of chips or a bag of pretzels, that’s the kind of manufacturing cost we’re looking at. “A very high volume, mass produced, very low unit cost. We think they’re going to come in between five and 10 times less than current dialysis systems.” <h2>Saving lives and saving the planet</h2> The staggering price drop is essential for equitable dialysis globally but filling the bags from home could also dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of dialysis treatment. “Currently in Australia, delivering four bags a day to the patient’s home already filled with fluid works out that each patient needs three tonnes of fluid delivered to their home [each year] so they can do the dialysis at home three times [a day],” explains Knight. “All of the bags for Australia and New Zealand are made in one factory in Western Sydney. That’s fine if you live in Paramatta because the truck can bring you the bags once a month. “But if you live in Perth or in Auckland, then those three tonnes of fluid have to be taken by truck from [Western Sydney] to your home. That carbon footprint, each year, is huge. “Our bags were delivered for 20 times less, so our carbon footprint is going to be 20 times less than current systems. “We’re very proud of that.” Image credits: Getty Images  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=169106&title=At-home+dialysis+for+the+cost+of+a+bag+of+chips" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  </div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/medicine/at-home-dialysis-for-the-cost-of-a-bag-of-chips/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Deborah Devis. </div> </div>

Technology

Woolworths shopping bag hack goes VIRAL

A Woolworths hack for storing the supermarket's plastic grocery bags has ignited a debate with checkout workers. A Gold Coast mum revealed how she folded bags into convenient "triangles". The folding technique is more space-efficient as it means you can keep several in your bag. <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841704/food-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/322d914984ff4df0b190cc03d9dbc63a" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> The 20-second video started a debate with check-out workers who said that the hack was "frustrating". “As a cashier, please make sure to unfold them before you get to the checkout because it takes so much time trying to open these,” the Woolies worker wrote. She added: “Sometimes I shake it open aggressively so they’ll know I’m annoyed.” “I would rather give them a bag for free than deal with this,” another worker wrote. A third agreed, saying: “Yes agreed! I’m a cashier too and they’re just so fidgety to unravel and time-consuming.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPzzcWDH5J1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPzzcWDH5J1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by nita 🤎 (@itsnitanita)</a> </div> </blockquote> The poster who made the video said that she didn't expect it to be that popular. "I was home alone putting away groceries and thought I’d prop up my phone and film a 20sec clip to show how I put my bags away. Didn’t think I’d make the news HAHAHAHAHA lmaooo" she wrote. </div> </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

Pack your bags: The trans-Tasman bubble is officially open

Set your sights on New Zealand, as our kiwi neighbour welcomes Aussie travellers once again. The trans-Tasman bubble has officially opened, allowing visitors to fly between the two countries without needing to quarantine before or after travel. Andrew Waddel, Tourism New Zealand’s General Manager, told Today there would be “emotional scenes” in New Zealand today as friends and families reunite following border closures last March. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNT6ru9AGpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNT6ru9AGpx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by New Zealand (@purenewzealand)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Building from that, there are going to be business travellers and holiday arrivals,” Mr Waddel said. “New Zealand gets to welcome back our Australian friends and vice-versa, New Zealanders coming back to Australia as well.” It’s been a long time coming, but Mr Waddel said, “We’re really excited. It’s a great buzz here in the airport.” As well as seeing family and friends reunite, the trans-Tasman bubble would also offer a large economic return and create jobs according to Mr Waddel. He recommended that Australians eager to travel to “plan ahead” and do their research ahead of their trip. “We’re encouraging people to visit websites like New Zealand.com or COVID19.gov.nz and they’ll provide good travel advice,” he said. “Download the COVID app, plan ahead and have contingencies in place as well.” “There’s so much to offer … which we’re looking forward to sharing soon. We’re really excited.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CN0ysmujaJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CN0ysmujaJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern)</a> </div> </blockquote> On the night of Sunday, April 18, the first quarantine-free flight between the two countries touched down in Auckland, just minutes after the trans-Tasman bubble officially opened.

International Travel

Sydney mum’s unbelievable find in lettuce bag

A Sydney mum has taken to Facebook to show her unexpected find in a bag of lettuce she claims she purchased at ALDI. Lesley Khun warned others on the Mosman Living group to "check packed lettuce carefully!" "Last night my son found this baby white headed snake in with the packaged baby cos lettuce he purchased from Aldi," Khun wrote. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840717/cos-lettuce-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ab4ef30453e44af1a0970a35ac96bc3f" /> "Make sure you check packed lettuce carefully!" When asked by group members what fate the snake had met, Khun revealed that WIRES Wildlife Rescue had come to remove the creature. White headed snakes are thankfully not too common in Brisbane, and are also not considered dangerous to humans. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840716/cos-lettuce-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a4b27bb2496549c2a9e151d47466daf3" /> "Oh my Lord!" one person wrote on the post. Another user commented: "Allens taking Snakes Alive to a whole new meaning."

Food & Wine

Teens from prestigious school guilty of bashing stranger for his bag and shoes

Five teenage boys have admitted to bashing a man at Perth’s Stirling train station so badly doctors were forced to put him in a coma, after pleading guilty to downgraded charges. The five, who cannot be named, were students of Churchlands Senior High School and beat 20-year-old Matthew Henson (pictured) on February 13 just before they stole his shoes and bag. Mr Henson suffered severe head injuries and was initially placed in an induced coma at Royal Perth Hospital. After spending weeks in intensive care and another specialised ward, he was transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital to start rehabilitation. The five boys, aged between 15 and 16, were charged with aggravated robbery and causing grievous bodily harm. But those charges were quickly dropped by the Perth Children’s Court on Thursday, including for one boy who had already pleaded guilty. All of them pleaded guilty to a new, lesser charge of intent to harm, doing an act as a result of which Mr Henson’s life, health or safety was, or was likely, to be endangered. They also pleaded guilty to stealing his shoes and one of the boys pleaded guilty to stealing his bag. All charges were dismissed against a sixth boy and not replaced with any new charges, resulting in him walking free from court. Psychological and juvenile justice reports will be prepared for most of the boys before their sentencing on August 18.

Legal

“Don’t touch the bag”: Former Obama staff member reprimanded by Queen’s aid

Barack Obama’s former Chief of Protocol has revealed the extreme lengths Queen’s staff go to in order to protect her privacy. Capricia Penavic Marshall worked for former President Obama from 2009 to 2013 and her role meant she advised him on all matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. She also recalled to <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/politics/capricia-penavic-marshall-new-book-remembers-trying-take-queen-elizabeth-purse/" target="_blank">People</a> the embarrassing moment she was scolded for trying to help the royal with her purse during an official visit to Buckingham Palace in 2011. After stepping forward to assist the Queen with her bag so that she could greet the Obamas without it, Marshall, 56, says her British counterpart quickly pushed her back and told her simply: “We do not touch the bag.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836673/queen.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/79d44520f5384eb18817bb6ddbc449b6" /> Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth. “As Her Majesty walked out, I made a comment to my counterpart. I said, ‘Oh, my goodness, Her Majesty has her bag.’ And I made an ever so slight move with my left foot,” she recalled. “He, with both of his hands, pushed me back against the wall and said, ‘Do not touch the bag,’ and I said, ‘Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry.’” The unnamed royal staffer reiterated his point again, saying no one was to ever touch the Queen’s bag. “He goes, ‘We do not touch the bag.’ And I said, ‘Okay, I apologize. I would never. But do we know what's in the bag?’ And he said, ‘We don't know what's in the bag. But we never touch the bag,'” she revealed. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836672/queen-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fb25d221d26e4870a22bd919086447da" /> Capricia Penavic Marshall In Marshall’s new book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You, she said she actually learned Her Majesty actually uses her bag as a means of signalling to her staff. “If it's on one part of her arm, it means the meeting is going fine, leave me alone. But if she lowers it, it means, ‘End this now. I want to go,'” Marshall explained. Despite the awkward moment that could have gone terrible wrong, Marshall says the visit was a huge success and noted that the former President Obama and his wife Michelle were “so, so very fond” of the royal.

International Travel

Woolworths CEO responds to backlash after ‘Made in China’ paper bag furore

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci has responded to new demands for more Australian-made products in stores. Addressing shoppers directly, Banducci says the supermarket is working on ways to make it easier to identify locally made products. The store came under fire after it was discovered that their new paper bags are made in China. Woolworths has also faced criticism over its decision to drop Aussie owned and made Farmers Co Peanut Butter from stores due to a “sustained period of underperforming sales”. There’s also a petition calling on all supermarkets to introduce an “Australian-made” aisle in their stores. Banducci has welcomed the calls for clearer signage on Australian-made products, saying “it’s a challenge we’re up for”. “As we start to recover from COVID, we understand how important it is to support Australian businesses and in turn our communities,” wrote Banducci in a recent email to customers. “That’s why, to support Australian dairy farmers, this week we announced that we will extend our existing dairy contribution payments for Woolworths branded two and three litre fresh own brand milk varieties until June 2021. “This extension is expected to contribute more than $30 million to dairy farmers, on top of the almost $50 million we, together with you, our customers, have already contributed. Thank you for your continued support for this key initiative. “This is in addition to our commitment to an Australian-first sourcing policy for fruit, vegetables and meat and supporting local products where possible. “We have also heard your feedback on how to make identifying Australian products easier when you’re shopping – it’s a challenge we’re up for and one we are working on.” Last week, the supermarket also announced it was looking to find a local manufacturer in Australia who could produce its new paper bags following the “Made in China” backlash.

Food & Wine

The tiny detail in Woolworths' new paper bags that has angered shoppers

Shoppers have slammed Woolworths over their new paper bags being made in China. The supermarket giant announced the release of the bags, which are made from 70 per cent recycled paper, on June 3 after a trial earlier this year was “very well received” by customers. But now, some shoppers have taken to Facebook to share their disappointment after noticing the “Made in China” label on the bottom of the bags. Speaking to 7News, a spokesperson for Woolworths said that they are now exploring options to have the bags made locally. The announcement came shortly after shoppers voiced their frustration over the bags. “Just found out that the new paper bags that were announced this week, come from China,” said one shopper on social media. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwoolworths%2Fposts%2F4022736007798500&width=500" width="500" height="587" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> “It would have been nice to have them made in Australia. How can we support Australians if large corporations don’t give us the option? Very disappointed.” Added another: “Shame on you Woolworths. Promoting the use of the paper bags that are made in China. Surely they should have been manufactured here in Australia.” “So they’re not made in Australia … When they are then perhaps people might buy them,” said a third. Others sided with Woolworths on the decision. “So you’ll be asking people to throw out and stop using their iPhones when exactly?” asked one. Said another: “Yeah we should produce them in Australia for 5x the cost and then whinge about how the paper bag costs so much more than the plastic.” A Woolworths spokesperson said they were brainstorming ideas on how to make the bags locally. “We’ve been exploring options to source paper bags locally,” the spokesperson said. “We’ll continue working closely with Australian manufacturers to see if we can find a viable solution as soon as possible.”

Money & Banking

Woolworths shopping bag shake-up

Woolies shoppers across Australia will now be able to carry their groceries around in paper bags, for what is the first time in over four decades. Paper bags are not being offered alongside reusable carry bags. They were trialled in 20 stores throughout late 2019 in a bid to fulfill increased demand from customers for easily recyclable bag options. The new bags are made from 70 per cent recycled paper and will be sold for 20 cents each. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836374/woolies.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5b9d6384ece040dcafe8b95023154c66" /> Woolies’ reusable plastic bags, foldable bags and Bag for Good options will also still be available at the checkout. They hold up to 6kg worth of grocery items per bag, and are made from responsibly sourced paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. There are future plans in the works to offer the paper bags to online customers for home delivery and pick-up in the future. Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters says the bags are already proving to be a hit with customers. “While the vast majority of our customers bring their own bags, we know customers sometimes drop by a store unplanned or can forget their bags when they’re on the run,” Ms Peters said. “For some time, customers have told us they’d like the option of a strong paper bag option, so we’re pleased to now offer that choice at our checkouts, alongside our existing reusable plastic bags. “These paper bags resonated really well with customers when we trialled them in 20 stores last year and we expect to see a positive response from the customers who’ve been asking for this option nationwide.” Each Bag for Good costs 99 cent but I can be replaced free of charge if the bag is damaged – it does not matter when it is purchased. Proceeds made from the bag sales go to the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program. Woolies’ reusable bags cost 15 cents each and are made from at least 80 per cent recycled plastics. These bags can be returned to the store, along with other soft plastics, for recycling in REDcycle bins. Woolworths began phasing out single-use plastic shopping bags in 2018. The company claims that since then, more than six billion of bags have been removed from circulation. Just 15 per cent of customers are now purchasing new bags when doing their grocery shop.

Food & Wine

Make your own mask from a tea towel, t-shirt or vacuum bag

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of protective face masks, leading to a number of online tutorials on how to make your own using items found around the house. Homemade masks offer significantly less protection than the N95 medical masks, which are made of a thick, tightly woven material that fits over the face and can stop 95 per cent of all airborne particles. And while many health organisations have recommended to ditch the masks unless in a medical setting, there is a good reason to think DIY masks could be effective in tackling the pandemic. They’ve been used extensively in countries such as Hong Kong, Mongolia and South Korea – places that have the disease largely under control. The World Health Organisation also does not recommend that people without the illness wear the face mask, but they’re looking at reversing their decision due to evidence from Hong Kong that it may be effective in fighting the virus. Here’s how you can make your own at home using a kitchen towel What you will need: <ul> <li>Kitchen towel</li> <li>One tissue</li> <li>Masking tape</li> <li>Elastic bands</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Cut both the paper towel and tissue in half and apply masking tape on each end to make sure the mask is stiff.</li> <li>Punch holes through either end of the mask and thread the elastic bands through the holes.</li> </ol> Your mask is ready in two simple steps. How to make a face mask with a t-shirt A tutorial by YouTuber Runa Ray shows how to make a face mask with a t-shirt, no sewing required. What you will need: <ul> <li>Scissors</li> <li>Pencil</li> <li>Ruler</li> <li>Unwanted t-shirt</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Cut out a 16" by 4" rectangle from the middle of the t-shirt, then fold it in half, and measure four inches on either side.</li> <li>Mark the t-shirt with an even number of tassels on each side and use scissors to cut them.</li> <li>Turn the t-shirt inside out and separate the corner tassels, but tie the remaining ones in-between.</li> <li>With the remaining t-shirt material cut some ear straps using the hem of the shirt. </li> <li>Attach the straps to the remaining outer tassels and you have yourself a face mask, with no sewing involved, and using an old t-shirt.</li> </ol> How to make a face mask from vacuum cleaner bags What you will need: <ul> <li>Vacuum bag</li> <li>Paperclip</li> <li>Two rubber bands</li> <li>Stapler</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Cut the bag into a rectangle. Make sure to keep all the layers together.</li> <li>With the inside of the bag facing upwards fold twice along the bottom and top.</li> <li>Fold both bottom corners of the bag.</li> <li>Get a paperclip or other thin wire and straighten it out.</li> <li>Take two rubber bands and fold the far ends around them. Staple the folds to secure them.</li> <li>Push the straightened wire through the centre of the top.</li> <li>Stretch the rubber bands around your ears to hold the mask against your face. Pinch the wire to secure around your nose.</li> </ol>

Art

“Check your receipts”: Shopper issues Woolworths plastic bag warning

A Woolworths customer who noticed an unusual charge on her shopping receipt has warned others to check if they too have been stung by an extra cost. The woman said a staff member intentionally scanned a reusable bag that she brought from home at least three different times as she was checking out. Taking to the company’s Facebook page to issue a complaint, she expressed her confusion as to how a wrinkled-up bag inside her handbag was mistaken for a brand new one. “For the third time (that I am aware of) you have charged me 15 cents for my own bag,” the shopper wrote. She said it was not about the money but made her question how many others had been charged. The woman said that although she always keeps a reusable bag in her handbag, so she didn’t get “caught out”, the decision seems to have backfired due to careless staff members. “Those bags are so neatly and tightly folded that it should be quite obvious to anyone that they have not just been picked up in store that day,” she wrote. “The scrunched-up handles and few little tears are also a dead giveaway. Not to mention the fact that when I hand it over, I say, ‘Here’s my bag’.” The woman advised others to “check your receipts” as she was certain that she wasn’t the only one hit with the charge. “I’m not the only one this would be happening to. Shame on you Woolworths,” she said. A spokesperson for Woolworths responded to the shopper saying it was an error on the staff member’s part, but that they “wouldn’t intentionally re-scan” the reusable bags. “We’d be more than happy to fix it up next time you’re in store. We like seeing our customers bring their own bags and wouldn’t intentionally re-scan them,” said the representative. “If you can please let us know the store visited, that would be appreciated, and we’ll ensure the feedback is forwarded to the store management team. We look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your understanding.”

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