Major change at Coles packaging sparks debate among shoppers: ‘Impressed’
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Reducing plastic waste has become a major focus for Australians, with growing concerns about the environmental impact of excessive packaging.
As supermarkets play a significant role in plastic consumption, any effort to cut down on unnecessary waste is bound to attract attention.
One major retailer has just introduced a packaging change that has sparked praise from shoppers—but not everyone is convinced.
As Australians become increasingly conscious of their plastic consumption, one of the country's largest supermarkets took a step towards reducing unnecessary waste.
The move earned praise from environmentally minded shoppers.
With the nation generating an estimated 3.79 million tonnes of plastic annually, major retailers have long contributed to the problem through excessive packaging.
Customers are often left with little choice but to take it home.
Coles recently trialled a shift away from plastic in one of its fresh produce sections, introducing paper bags designed specifically for grapes.
The initiative, spotted at the Warriewood Square store in NSW earlier this month, was met with enthusiasm by shoppers who welcomed the move towards sustainability.
Sydney mother, Maraya described the change as a ‘fantastic initiative’ that could significantly cut down on plastic waste.
‘It’s such an easy swap that will make a huge difference to the amount of plastic grape bags purchased every week,’ she said.
‘I hope to see other supermarkets taking the initiative and changing their plastic for paper as well.’
A Coles spokeswoman confirmed that the paper bags—equipped with handles and fully recyclable—were part of a broader effort to minimise unnecessary plastic.
‘We are always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary plastic in our stores and know the fresh produce department is ripe for packaging innovation,’ she said.
Coles had previously trialled plastic-free blueberry punnets in 34 NSW stores in October last year.
The new packaging used recycled, FSC-certified cardboard that could be disposed of in kerbside recycling.
Earlier in 2024, the supermarket replaced the traditional plastic netting for its Coles' Unique Selection mandarins with a recyclable alternative.
This change prevented 11,700 kilograms of plastic waste in just one year.
The spokeswoman said Coles had been ‘impressed by the response we received when we launched the trial of grapes in recyclable bags’ last season.
‘[Coles] looks forward to sharing more packaging innovation with our customers in the future,’ she added.
While many welcomed the change, some social media users questioned the practicality of the paper bags, with concerns raised over durability.
‘Good in theory but I like being able to see into the clear bag to make sure they aren’t all gross inside,’ one person commented.
‘They’ll probably rip like the shopping paper bags,’ another wrote.
One man, however, defended the design, pointing out that the bags weren’t intended for long-distance carrying.
‘The handles are there to pick them up and place them in a trolley or a basket. Then they’re meant to be put in a bigger bag and taken home,’ he explained.
Check out more updates from Coles.
As supermarkets continue to rethink their packaging, it’s clear that sustainability is becoming a bigger priority—but will paper alternatives be the way forward? Will shoppers miss the convenience of plastic?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
As supermarkets play a significant role in plastic consumption, any effort to cut down on unnecessary waste is bound to attract attention.
One major retailer has just introduced a packaging change that has sparked praise from shoppers—but not everyone is convinced.
As Australians become increasingly conscious of their plastic consumption, one of the country's largest supermarkets took a step towards reducing unnecessary waste.
The move earned praise from environmentally minded shoppers.
With the nation generating an estimated 3.79 million tonnes of plastic annually, major retailers have long contributed to the problem through excessive packaging.
Customers are often left with little choice but to take it home.
Coles recently trialled a shift away from plastic in one of its fresh produce sections, introducing paper bags designed specifically for grapes.
The initiative, spotted at the Warriewood Square store in NSW earlier this month, was met with enthusiasm by shoppers who welcomed the move towards sustainability.
Sydney mother, Maraya described the change as a ‘fantastic initiative’ that could significantly cut down on plastic waste.
‘It’s such an easy swap that will make a huge difference to the amount of plastic grape bags purchased every week,’ she said.
‘I hope to see other supermarkets taking the initiative and changing their plastic for paper as well.’
A Coles spokeswoman confirmed that the paper bags—equipped with handles and fully recyclable—were part of a broader effort to minimise unnecessary plastic.
‘We are always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary plastic in our stores and know the fresh produce department is ripe for packaging innovation,’ she said.
Coles had previously trialled plastic-free blueberry punnets in 34 NSW stores in October last year.
The new packaging used recycled, FSC-certified cardboard that could be disposed of in kerbside recycling.
Earlier in 2024, the supermarket replaced the traditional plastic netting for its Coles' Unique Selection mandarins with a recyclable alternative.
This change prevented 11,700 kilograms of plastic waste in just one year.
The spokeswoman said Coles had been ‘impressed by the response we received when we launched the trial of grapes in recyclable bags’ last season.
‘[Coles] looks forward to sharing more packaging innovation with our customers in the future,’ she added.
While many welcomed the change, some social media users questioned the practicality of the paper bags, with concerns raised over durability.
‘Good in theory but I like being able to see into the clear bag to make sure they aren’t all gross inside,’ one person commented.
‘They’ll probably rip like the shopping paper bags,’ another wrote.
One man, however, defended the design, pointing out that the bags weren’t intended for long-distance carrying.
‘The handles are there to pick them up and place them in a trolley or a basket. Then they’re meant to be put in a bigger bag and taken home,’ he explained.
Check out more updates from Coles.
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As supermarkets continue to rethink their packaging, it’s clear that sustainability is becoming a bigger priority—but will paper alternatives be the way forward? Will shoppers miss the convenience of plastic?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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