Coles rolls out simple solution to resolve shopping frustration
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 35
Navigating the produce section of your local supermarket can sometimes feel like an exercise in environmental guilt.
Seeing those flimsy, single-use plastic bags can leave us with a nagging feeling that we're contributing to the planet's plastic problem.
But for Coles shoppers, this familiar frustration might soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a simple yet ingenious solution the supermarket chain is trialling.
In a move that's sure to be welcomed by environmentally conscious consumers, Coles is introducing cardboard boxes as an alternative to plastic produce bags.
This eight-week trial, which has already commenced in select stores across Australia, is not only a nod to sustainability but also a potential game-changer for shoppers who are tired of wrestling with plastic bags or who often forget their reusable ones at home.
The cardboard boxes, which were originally used to deliver produce to the stores, offer a sturdy and recyclable way to carry fruit and vegetables while shopping.
Customers can either take these boxes home or leave them at the checkout for someone else to use, creating a cycle of reuse that could significantly reduce plastic waste.
Coles Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer Matt Swindells has highlighted the dual benefits of this initiative.
‘We know our customers want us to provide more sustainable packaging solutions, and this trial offers a plastic-free alternative to fresh produce bags that, if successful, could see a sizeable reduction in the number of plastic produce bags in circulation,’ Swindells said.
The push for recyclable produce packaging is backed by consumer sentiment, with a Coles survey revealing that eight out of 10 shoppers consider it important for such packaging to be recyclable.
Furthermore, 61 per cent of customers interviewed responded positively to the idea of the cardboard box trial.
This isn't the first time Coles has experimented with eco-friendly alternatives.
Earlier this year, the supermarket tested the waters with the 'Swap-a-box' initiative, where customers at 29 stores had the option to purchase a Coles carry box for $2.
Although the response was encouraging, a spokesperson said the scheme has since concluded and is not currently ongoing.
Have you spotted these cardboard boxes at your local Coles? Do you think this could be the solution to reducing plastic waste in supermarkets? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
Seeing those flimsy, single-use plastic bags can leave us with a nagging feeling that we're contributing to the planet's plastic problem.
But for Coles shoppers, this familiar frustration might soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a simple yet ingenious solution the supermarket chain is trialling.
In a move that's sure to be welcomed by environmentally conscious consumers, Coles is introducing cardboard boxes as an alternative to plastic produce bags.
This eight-week trial, which has already commenced in select stores across Australia, is not only a nod to sustainability but also a potential game-changer for shoppers who are tired of wrestling with plastic bags or who often forget their reusable ones at home.
The cardboard boxes, which were originally used to deliver produce to the stores, offer a sturdy and recyclable way to carry fruit and vegetables while shopping.
Customers can either take these boxes home or leave them at the checkout for someone else to use, creating a cycle of reuse that could significantly reduce plastic waste.
Coles Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer Matt Swindells has highlighted the dual benefits of this initiative.
‘We know our customers want us to provide more sustainable packaging solutions, and this trial offers a plastic-free alternative to fresh produce bags that, if successful, could see a sizeable reduction in the number of plastic produce bags in circulation,’ Swindells said.
The push for recyclable produce packaging is backed by consumer sentiment, with a Coles survey revealing that eight out of 10 shoppers consider it important for such packaging to be recyclable.
Furthermore, 61 per cent of customers interviewed responded positively to the idea of the cardboard box trial.
This isn't the first time Coles has experimented with eco-friendly alternatives.
Earlier this year, the supermarket tested the waters with the 'Swap-a-box' initiative, where customers at 29 stores had the option to purchase a Coles carry box for $2.
Although the response was encouraging, a spokesperson said the scheme has since concluded and is not currently ongoing.
Key Takeaways
- Coles is trialling the use of cardboard boxes as an alternative to single-use plastic bags for loose fruit and vegetables in select stores.
- The initiative is a sustainability effort aimed at reducing the use of plastic produce bags and providing a free solution for shoppers who forget reusable bags.
- A Coles survey revealed that a significant majority of shoppers find it important for produce packaging to be recyclable, and the cardboard box trial received positive feedback.
- The 'Swap-a-box' scheme, which allowed customers to buy a Coles carry box for $2, recently ended despite the positive response it garnered.