Coles Introduces Sustainable Paper Bags to Reduce Plastic Waste
Coles has introduced sustainable paper bags for grapes, aiming to reduce plastic use as Australia grapples with high plastic consumption. The initiative has garnered positive feedback and will continue to evolve.
As Australians look to reduce their plastic intake, our nation collectively consumes a staggering 3.79 million tonnes of plastic per year. In response, keen-eyed shoppers have applauded Coles for a bold new packaging initiative.
Australia's biggest retailers are major plastic consumers, often passing the burden on to customers through wrappers, bags, and other packaging. However, Coles has earned praise this week for replacing some plastic grocery bags with more sustainable paper alternatives.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, mum Maraya branded the change a "fantastic initiative" after spotting specially designed paper bags for grapes at the supermarket's Warriewood Square store in NSW earlier this month. She said, "It's such an easy swap that will make a huge difference to the amount of plastic grape bags purchased every week. I hope to see other supermarkets taking the initiative and changing their plastic for paper as well."
A spokeswoman for Coles explained that the new bags, which come with handles and are recyclable, form part of the supermarket's broader plastic reduction measures. She articulated, "We are always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary plastic in our stores and know the fresh produce department is ripe for packaging innovation."
Coles previously trialled plastic-free blueberry packaging in 34 of its stores in NSW last October. These new punnets were made from recycled, FSC-certified cardboard and could be recycled kerbside. They also trialled recyclable bags for Coles' Unique Selection mandarins, which avoided the use of 11,700 kilograms of plastic in one year.
The spokeswoman noted Coles had been impressed by the response when they launched the trial of grapes in recyclable bags last season, adding, "[Coles] looks forward to sharing more packaging innovation with our customers in the future."
While the Sydney mother praised the bags, some online questioned their durability. One comment read, "Good in theory but I like being able to see into the clear bag to make sure they aren't all gross inside." Another added, "They'll probably rip like the shopping paper bags." However, as one man pointed out, "These bags aren't meant to be carried long distances." He clarified, "The handles are there to pick them up and place them in a trolley or basket. Then they're meant to be put in a bigger bag and taken home."
