‘Do you really need a bag?’: Coles sign sparks outrage over plastic use.
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Plastic waste has become an unavoidable part of modern shopping, with retailers under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices.
Yet, despite pledging to cut down on plastic, some supermarket displays have left shoppers scratching their heads.
A recent in-store sighting at Coles has reignited debate over supermarket sustainability efforts, highlighting the gap between environmental messaging and real-world practices.
Shoppers have called out Coles after an in-store display promoting plastic reduction appeared to contradict itself.
An image shared on social media showed a sign encouraging customers to use reusable produce bags, yet the cherry tomatoes displayed in front of it were packaged in plastic containers.
The sign read ‘reducing plastic’ and asked shoppers ‘Do you need a bag?’ before promoting reusable mesh produce bags as a more sustainable option.
Coles stated that the placement of the sign was a mistake and that it would be corrected.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: ‘We understand our customers want us to reduce unnecessary packaging and to make it easier for them to recycle. We also know that packaging plays an important role in protecting products and reducing food waste.’
They added that the company had made changes to reduce plastic, including switching to recyclable grape bags, trialling mandarins in paper bags instead of plastic nets, and packaging blueberries in recyclable cardboard punnets.
In 2023, Coles phased out soft plastic shopping bags in-store and online, removing approximately 230 million bags from circulation.
The retailer now offers 100 per cent recycled paper bags, along with reusable tote, chiller, and mesh produce bags.
The reusable mesh bags, available in a three-pack for $1.50, are made from at least 90 per cent recycled materials and designed for Coles’ weighing scales.
A spokesperson said: ‘To encourage more of our customers to purchase loose fruit and vegetables and reduce the use of single-use plastic produce bags, we offer reusable fresh produce bags available for customers to complete their shop.’
The photo sparked debate among shoppers, with many suggesting alternative packaging solutions for cherry tomatoes.
One shopper said: ‘It would be cool if they did loose cherry tomatoes per kilo the same way they do gourmet/truss. Gimme a little brown mushroom bag and a small scoop! I never need 250 grams anyway.’
Another commented that other supermarkets had already adopted this approach, with some Foodland and Woolworths stores selling loose cherry tomatoes at a cheaper price per kilogram.
However, others argued that loose produce might not be the best alternative.
One person wrote: ‘I worked in a fresh fruit and veg store. You do NOT want this. Cherry tomatoes have an incredibly low shelf life, they just randomly burst into mould and attract fruit flies.’
They explained that pre-packaged tomatoes were easier to inspect and discard if mouldy, while loose ones would spoil faster and lead to more waste.
Some suggested that supermarkets should consider different packaging options.
A shopper wrote: ‘I’ll never understand why these (tomatoes) couldn’t be replaced by a cardboard box with a thin plastic film on the lid.’
Others expanded the discussion to other produce, with one person saying: ‘I wish I could buy strawberries (loose) as well, half the pre-packaged punnets end up being the squishy, crappy ones anyway. I’d much rather pay a little more per kg to buy just the amount I’m actually gonna eat.’
A report by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) in November found that Australia’s major supermarkets were falling short of their sustainability commitments.
The Unwrapped 2024 report assessed Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, and Metcash (IGA) on their packaging practices and found a significant gap between their sustainability promises and their actions.
It revealed that in 73 per cent of cases, fresh produce wrapped in plastic was cheaper than loose alternatives, discouraging customers from choosing plastic-free options.
The report recommended that all fresh produce be sold loose unless retailers could prove that packaging reduced food waste.
In a previous story, Coles made headlines for a major change to its packaging that had shoppers divided.
Some praised the move, while others questioned its impact on sustainability.
Read more about the reaction to Coles’ packaging decision here.
With supermarkets pushing sustainability while still relying on plastic packaging, do you think they're doing enough to reduce waste?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Yet, despite pledging to cut down on plastic, some supermarket displays have left shoppers scratching their heads.
A recent in-store sighting at Coles has reignited debate over supermarket sustainability efforts, highlighting the gap between environmental messaging and real-world practices.
Shoppers have called out Coles after an in-store display promoting plastic reduction appeared to contradict itself.
An image shared on social media showed a sign encouraging customers to use reusable produce bags, yet the cherry tomatoes displayed in front of it were packaged in plastic containers.
The sign read ‘reducing plastic’ and asked shoppers ‘Do you need a bag?’ before promoting reusable mesh produce bags as a more sustainable option.
Coles’ plastic-free sign sparks shopper backlash. Image source: Reddit
Coles stated that the placement of the sign was a mistake and that it would be corrected.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: ‘We understand our customers want us to reduce unnecessary packaging and to make it easier for them to recycle. We also know that packaging plays an important role in protecting products and reducing food waste.’
They added that the company had made changes to reduce plastic, including switching to recyclable grape bags, trialling mandarins in paper bags instead of plastic nets, and packaging blueberries in recyclable cardboard punnets.
In 2023, Coles phased out soft plastic shopping bags in-store and online, removing approximately 230 million bags from circulation.
The retailer now offers 100 per cent recycled paper bags, along with reusable tote, chiller, and mesh produce bags.
The reusable mesh bags, available in a three-pack for $1.50, are made from at least 90 per cent recycled materials and designed for Coles’ weighing scales.
A spokesperson said: ‘To encourage more of our customers to purchase loose fruit and vegetables and reduce the use of single-use plastic produce bags, we offer reusable fresh produce bags available for customers to complete their shop.’
The photo sparked debate among shoppers, with many suggesting alternative packaging solutions for cherry tomatoes.
One shopper said: ‘It would be cool if they did loose cherry tomatoes per kilo the same way they do gourmet/truss. Gimme a little brown mushroom bag and a small scoop! I never need 250 grams anyway.’
Another commented that other supermarkets had already adopted this approach, with some Foodland and Woolworths stores selling loose cherry tomatoes at a cheaper price per kilogram.
However, others argued that loose produce might not be the best alternative.
One person wrote: ‘I worked in a fresh fruit and veg store. You do NOT want this. Cherry tomatoes have an incredibly low shelf life, they just randomly burst into mould and attract fruit flies.’
They explained that pre-packaged tomatoes were easier to inspect and discard if mouldy, while loose ones would spoil faster and lead to more waste.
Some suggested that supermarkets should consider different packaging options.
A shopper wrote: ‘I’ll never understand why these (tomatoes) couldn’t be replaced by a cardboard box with a thin plastic film on the lid.’
Others expanded the discussion to other produce, with one person saying: ‘I wish I could buy strawberries (loose) as well, half the pre-packaged punnets end up being the squishy, crappy ones anyway. I’d much rather pay a little more per kg to buy just the amount I’m actually gonna eat.’
A report by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) in November found that Australia’s major supermarkets were falling short of their sustainability commitments.
The Unwrapped 2024 report assessed Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, and Metcash (IGA) on their packaging practices and found a significant gap between their sustainability promises and their actions.
It revealed that in 73 per cent of cases, fresh produce wrapped in plastic was cheaper than loose alternatives, discouraging customers from choosing plastic-free options.
The report recommended that all fresh produce be sold loose unless retailers could prove that packaging reduced food waste.
In a previous story, Coles made headlines for a major change to its packaging that had shoppers divided.
Some praised the move, while others questioned its impact on sustainability.
Read more about the reaction to Coles’ packaging decision here.
With supermarkets pushing sustainability while still relying on plastic packaging, do you think they're doing enough to reduce waste?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
