When Woolworths and Coles announced it was launching competing plastic promotions, some people weren't impressed.
Sure, kids love the little items, but were we seriously going down a path where hundreds of thousands of little bits of plastic were given out that serve virtually no purpose?
Well, it seems like Woolworths has listened and is going down a greener route for its latest promotion.
When customers spend more than $40 they'll get free plants under the supermarket giant's Discovery Garden program. It's mirroring a similar project which launched in New Zealand, where customers could collect 24 different seedlings.
You'll be able to grow herbs, fruit, vegetables and flowers as well as teach your kids about where food comes from and sustainability.
A Woolworths spokesperson said in a statement: "Woolworths is excited to confirm that we will be launching Woolworths Discovery Garden in September, a new collectable designed to give Australians of all ages the opportunity to grow their very own fresh food.
"Woolworths Discovery Garden is based on the internationally successful 'Little Garden' which has previously been rolled out in countries such as New Zealand and South Africa."
If you're wondering why this is such a big deal, there were thousands of people who actively wanted Coles and Woolworths to get rid of their Little Shop and Ooshie promotions.
One person even started an online petition calling for Coles to end it immediately.
Sara Coates started the petition, writing on Change.org that it's ludicrous that Coles would start this promotion when it's Plastic Free July.
"Wow...Coles...just wow...You have just proved you really do not care for our children's future by bringing these so called 'collectables' back," Sara wrote.
"This is when most people are doing their best to bring their own bags, choosing less packaging on their food and saying no to straws. Here you are handing out plastic junk that will end in landfill or in our oceans."
"Sure, I get you want higher profits but couldn't you have come up with something that isn't plastic? If you really wanted to give our children something to collect why couldn't it be environmentally thoughtful?"
No doubt Sara and others will happy with Woolworths' announcement.
Featured Image Credit: Woolworths