Coles announces major change that will impact millions of Australians
Coles announces major bag policy change that will affect millions of Aussies: here’s what you need to know
Coles has pledged to phase out soft plastic shopping bags in-store and online by the end of next month.
The supermarket chain says it will run out of remaining supply of soft plastic bags in the coming weeks and will stop selling them at the end of June.
The move to reduce unnecessary packaging at the checkout is expected to remove 230 million plastic bags from circulation within a year.
Coles Group Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer Matt Swindells said the decision is testament to the retail giant’s commitment to driving positive change.
“The most sustainable option is to take your own reusable bag to the supermarket, but for those who forget, we continue to sell 100 percent recycled paper bags that can be recycled on the street, as well as other reusable options,” he said.
The alternative bags have been tested to hold up to six kilograms of goods.
Coles says it will stop selling soft plastic bags nationwide at the end of June
Coles removed single-use plastic carrier bags from checkouts in 2018, saving an estimated 14,000 tons of plastic from annual production.
The paper bags are for sale in the store for 25 cents.
Shoppers can also choose from a range of reusable tote bags that retail for $1 and $2.50 for large options. From next week, the bags will be used for home delivery and Click & Collect orders.
Coles and Woolworths said earlier this week they would meet a deadline to begin removing tons of soft plastic waste stockpiled by collapsed company REDcycle.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority gave them until Friday to remove parts of the stocks found in huge stockpiles at 19 locations across the state.
A further 15 locations in Victoria contain stockpiles of plastic, six in South Australia, two in Tasmania and one each in Queensland and Western Australia.
Woolworths and Coles took control of REDcycle’s stocks shortly before the company filed for voluntary administration.
The soft plastic recycling program was shut down in November after it was found that the plastic consumers sent back to supermarkets for recycling were being stored instead.