Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increased profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

 

[Cheezil]

Fair enough, as long as there's still always a choice to use bags (I might have a massive pile of them already, but feel i cant do without them as i reuse them & they are needed/reused for so many purposes)

 

[IAN3005]

They have an ulterior motive... believe me.... regardless of what they say. Either it is included in the price or hiding the motive.... Coles does nothing without a return on investement.

 

[cheviegirl34]

Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

View attachment 16228

Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increased profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

How can they remove the bags from the fruit & vegie aisle? How are you supposed to carry your goods? Imagine just hanging onto a few bunches of grapes. 6 or 7 tomatoes plus whatever else you buy. Beyond stupid! I suppose they expect us to BUY at OUR expense those stupid flimsy net bags. Supermarkets are already making a fortune out of people stupid enough to buy their bags.

 

[Pat T]

How can they remove the bags from the fruit & vegie aisle? How are you supposed to carry your goods? Imagine just hanging onto a few bunches of grapes. 6 or 7 tomatoes plus whatever else you buy. Beyond stupid! I suppose they expect us to BUY at OUR expense those stupid flimsy net bags. Supermarkets are already making a fortune out of people stupid enough to buy their bags.

Maybe go back to paper bags?

 

[Pink lion]

Did you know, in quite a few of the Worlds underdeveloped countries, they cut banana stalks, peel off the layers, roll them flat, soak them in tubs, hang up the fibers to dry, and then they are then used to create all manner of clothing garments?

I attempted for a number of years to get successive governments (it's a strange word when we think of it) to see the potential, for creating a massive cottage industry creating shopping bags out of banana husks.

After all, if people in under-developed countries, can make clothing easily out of banana husks, why can't they make shopping bags? It's got to be even easier than that.

All they'd need to do is pay the people in another country to come here and show us how not to continue to waste our substantial banana crop waste and turn it into a resource.

The environment would no longer suffer plastic bags, jobs would be created, and our economy could have a boost I started saying this to them about eight years back... rust works faster.

Begone, away with you and your constant cost saving money generating environment saving ideas say the people in high office blocks. You are not a highly paid egg spurt, say the silly minded executives.

Plastic bags are after all a part of nature, they are in the deepest part of the oceans, micro plastics are within the Earths soil, in the air, inside trees and its now found to be in us, and it's easier to continue as is, than create change. Even though readily available and extremely practical ideas about how we could improve life are quite literally everywhere. The true focus, after all, is how can they be re-elected again.

I am required once more today, to go and vote for people who really do not often demonstrate that they have a clue about anything at all. Corporation lobbyists run this country, it's the fact. And politicians as a collective group it seems, have no interest in bringing positive radical change at all to our nation.

Ripping up National Railway infrastructure for a push bike tourism on rail trails, is deemed as progress, ha ha ha. Creating shopping bags out of banana skin fibres? Evidently this is not.

It's such a silly state (or country) of affairs.

Such is life as they say. It is what it is, there's no-one to vote for, but it's time once again, to vote.

 

[Catherines]

Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

View attachment 16228

Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increasede profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

Maybe go back to paper bags?

Why do we need to cut down even more trees to make paper bags. Surely over the last ‘many’ years we have all accumulated many branded ‘cloth’ bags from the supermarkets.

Take your own bags from home in the boot of your car, put your chosen fruit and vegetables in them while you shop and take them out at the check-out, hand the bags to the operator to fill with your fruit & vegetables and other groceries. Simple (or as one ad goes ‘Simples’!!). Any fabric bag you have at home will suffice - it doesn’t have to be a branded Coles or Woolworths marked bag. I recently washed many cloth bags accumulating at home that were from travel expos and they are in our boot so when needed they will be used - smaller than the grocery bags but probably big enough for fruit & vegetables or other items that need to be kept from being squashed like bread.

I am in my 70s but can see the need for a change in our environment for our children, grandchildren and beyond. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Can’t we see the damage our generation has already done - fires, floods, earthquakes, heat, poverty etc expanding and becoming more prevalent? Then we expect governments to help us financially while WE are not doing our part more.

 

[mOiOz]

Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

View attachment 16228

Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increased profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

I LOVE the idea of boxes being reused and saving the planet. BUT..., what about saving US...? How are we meant to carry a full box of groceries from the car to the kitchen?
They have obviously not given enough thought to seniors and the disabled.

 

[Niecy]

People have their groceries delivered because they don't have enough time or are just unable to go to the store. So why and how are they expected to go to the store to return these boxes? Why not just return them to the delivery driver on their next order and they should be the collapsible boxes which take up less room to store. Are these boxes going to be made from cardboard or plastic? If plastic, then sort of goes against trying to eliminate the use of plastic??

 

[Sockjoan]

Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

View attachment 16228

Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increased profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

I’d hate to have my shopping in boxes. I have 14 stairs to climb before I reach my front door, and it is really hard to carry boxes up stairs. Reusable bags with decently long handles are the way to go.

 

[maggiej]

I have nothing against the use of boxes for your groceries BUt WHY WHy do people not take their own bags to put their shopping into? Oh silly me that means they need to buy a bag first.
I know not everyone can sew but I have made many bags in my time and I use these for my groceries, no plastic or paper bags for me. Years ago a grocery store here in WA named Charlie Carteers placed the opened and empty cardboard boxes near the checkouts for customers to use and any sensible person would take them back for their next shop
What I object to are the people who take the trolleys home some distance from the stores and then leave them dumped somewhere and I have seen where several are together probably left by the same person and we the customers are paying for the cost ivoled in the recovery by the stores of the trolleys. In one case I have seen a trolley having been pushed through a gap in a fence and has not been recovered even though I have told the store where it is so that now from what I can see of it is now rusted. Sorry for the long lecture haha

 

[perritykity]

Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

View attachment 16228

Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increased profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

I remember when I was very young, that Mum would go to the local shop, there was no Coles and Woolie then.. but the bag person would pack your things in a strong paper bag with your groceries in. Then Mum and Dad would tear them up and use in the compost for the big veg garden we had.. they had all us kids that were still at home to help tear them up and we would get .50 cents to get Lollie's with.. are the good ol days. And just to add I was 9-10 and I would walk to the shops to get Lollie's with my Bro who was only a year older than me. What a great memory to have. Hope you all have a flash back memory like this.

 

[Catherines]

I LOVE the idea of boxes being reused and saving the planet. BUT..., what about saving US...? How are we meant to carry a full box of groceries from the car to the kitchen?
They have obviously not given enough thought to seniors and the disabled.

Take your own bags. You don’t HAVE TO USE a cardboard box. TAKE YOUR OWN BAGS!!!
Just make sure they aren’t the plastic kind but fabric or even those coles and Woolies brought in some years ago. Seniors and disabled can do the same.

 

[mOiOz]

Take your own b ags. You don’t HAVE TO USE a cardboard box. TAKE YOUR OWN BAGS!!!

Relax... The whole idea of this concept is not only to utilise cardboard waste, but to also avoid the cost and waste of using bags.
I was simply voicing my opinion to assist others... I personally, have been shopping online for some time now.

 

[Esma Rose]

Look, I am so tired of these supposed new ideas. They just never get it right. In a few months you can bet on it, they will have some other plan in the brewing pot. Each day we get 24 hours older & MORE whacky ideas are strewn around. An excellent example are our trains. Why do not the Gov't hot foot it over to Japan & see how their system works? Second to none. Our beautiful country has become "A trial & error"space in time. I am nearly 98 & I've seen so many daft changes that have never worked successfully. As for boxes, they'd better have slits for your hands because my shoulders have had it. As for the plastic bags I've used them for YEARS under the sink for rubbish. Woollies bags are legal & suit me fine for all sorts of carrying. I even "fold them" a particular way to place in a spot that is handy to get at. Same with the paper bags with the handles. NO, I don't buy them. They are always available from the throwaway bin. It is SO obvious the elderly are NEVER thought of, or the couples who live on multiple floors. The shareholders come FIRST. Well, one day they too are going to grow old, unfit, get to the invalid stage to be limited in spending their hoard. Can't do much with money when you're totally limited in health. I can envisage more visits by the locals instead of the usual weekly. BOXES!!!!! For years Bunnings have made available boxes for us clients but there's still a stack left by the end of the day. Think about the people who are without a car now? Like me, I am totally reliable on my wonderful nephew who NEVER let's me down. Do you think I like using him when he is a wonderful human who helps everybody out? I did everything myself once, & I also was reliable. I also know many who have not graciously accepted the mobile phones, or are PC illiterate. How the heck can everyone accept the fast changing ways of the world since electronics have skittled many?

 

[MindyMac]

Meanwhile, my cats still prefer cardboard boxes. Nothing like that ever changes.

 

[Lynjw]

Grocery shopping can be both an enjoyable and tedious task. While some people relish browsing through the aisles and selecting their favourite products, others dread the long lines and crowded stores.

However, regardless of your stance on grocery shopping, one aspect of the experience can frustrate even the most seasoned shopper - the buildup of shopping bags over time.

Whether it's because of forgetfulness, a lack of storage space, or simply too many trips to the store, it's not uncommon to find yourself with a pile of bags that seem to have taken over your home.

If you’re one of those people looking for a solution to this pesky problem, then we’ve got news for you!

Grocery shopping just got a lot greener, with Coles rolling out a new scheme, designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags used in their stores.

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Coles Click & Collect customers can now bid farewell to plastic bags, thanks to the introduction of the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Credit: Shutterstock.

The program, called ‘Swap-a-box’, allows customers to have their ‘Click and Collect’ orders packed into reusable boxes instead of single-use plastic bags.

News of the initiative broke on social media, where customers nationwide reacted with delight.

'Woo-hoo, finally I won’t have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard,' one customer wrote on Facebook.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed that the Swap-a-box program, which is currently being trialled at select stores in Victoria such as Woodend and Melbourne’s Southland, as well as Inglewood in Western Australia, and three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in Tasmania from next week.

The representative said: ‘The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions.’

‘The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally.’

If you find yourself lucky enough to have Swap-a-box available in your local store, the program works like this: you return the boxes to the store and in return receive a gift card with a promotional code for your next Swap-a-box, free of charge.

It should be noted that Coles and its rival Woolworths have committed to replacing all single-use plastics in their stores with recyclable, reusable and compostable materials by 2025 as part of their ‘Plastic Pact’.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Coles has initiated trials of various initiatives including the removal of plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles.

Meanwhile, Woolworths has commenced its nationwide phase-out of plastic shopping bags, with a goal of achieving complete plastic-free operations by June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket is rolling out a new initiative called 'Swap-a-box' to reduce single-use plastic bags.
• Customers can use reusable boxes for their 'Click and Collect' orders instead of plastic bags.
• The program is being trialled at select stores, with plans to expand nationally.
• Coles and rival Woolworths aim to replace all single-use plastics with recyclable, reusable, and compostable materials by 2025.

Members, this is not only a huge positive shift for the environment but proves the power of consumer voice and action!

In recent years, more customers have become conscious of their environmental impact and the amount of plastic they waste.

This shift in consumer behaviour has increased the demand for plastic-free alternatives, particularly in shopping.

As a response, retailers are implementing various measures to reduce their environmental footprint and offer more sustainable options to their customers.

These initiatives not only benefit the environment but also contribute to creating a more socially responsible image for retailers.

Additionally, by taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, they are likely to attract more customers who value eco-friendly practices, potentially leading to increased profits in the long term.

What are your thoughts, members? Do you welcome the introduction of this program? We can’t wait for it to be introduced to our local stores! Let us know in the comments!

I’ll stick to enviro bags. Easier to squash than boxes

 

[RTS]

I have nothing against the use of boxes for your groceries BUt WHY WHy do people not take their own bags to put their shopping into? Oh silly me that means they need to buy a bag first.
I know not everyone can sew but I have made many bags in my time and I use these for my groceries, no plastic or paper bags for me. Years ago a grocery store here in WA named Charlie Carteers placed the opened and empty cardboard boxes near the checkouts for customers to use and any sensible person would take them back for their next shop
What I object to are the people who take the trolleys home some distance from the stores and then leave them dumped somewhere and I have seen where several are together probably left by the same person and we the customers are paying for the cost ivoled in the recovery by the stores of the trolleys. In one case I have seen a trolley having been pushed through a gap in a fence and has not been recovered even though I have told the store where it is so that now from what I can see of it is now rusted. Sorry for the long lecture haha

Charlie Carter's also paid women the same as men. They were really good supermarkets, and made excellent cream buns too!

 

[Pink lion]

It's like the govt think tank is as deep as a Petrie dish, when it comes to making rational decisions that affect us all. It's entirely logical for people in privileged positions, who get groceries home delivered, to say that people should shop, with cardboard boxes.

To use boxes is the logical thought. After all, that's what their home deliveries come in.

Its logical their think tanks would say use them. It's an entirely logical response from a section of society distanced from everyday reality with no regard to our environment.

Forget about making a new industry and creating shopping bags out of banana husk fiber. That doesn't even merit an enquiry. Who cares if good clothing is being made out of this product by people, who have no electricity. WE HAVE TREES we can pulp into paper.

It seems that nobody has a clue what is going on, because it takes a government funded committee to put itself under a microscope, and report if they did anything wrong when things go wrong. They report these findings to themselves, then maybe they tell us.

ha ha ha it would make a hilarious comedy show but the sad thing is were all in it. The television show, "Yes minister" does seem to be not too far at all, from the truth.

 

[mOiOz]

It's like the govt think tank is as deep as a Petrie dish, when it comes to making rational decisions that affect us all. It's entirely logical for people in privileged positions, who get groceries home delivered, to say that people should shop, with cardboard boxes.

To use boxes is the logical thought. After all, that's what their home deliveries come in.

Its logical their think tanks would say use them. It's an entirely logical response from a section of society distanced from everyday reality with no regard to our environment.

Forget about making a new industry and creating shopping bags out of banana husk fiber. That doesn't even merit an enquiry. Who cares if good clothing is being made out of this product by people, who have no electricity. WE HAVE TREES we can pulp into paper.

It seems that nobody has a clue what is going on, because it takes a government funded committee to put itself under a microscope, and report if they did anything wrong when things go wrong. They report these findings to themselves, then maybe they tell us.

ha ha ha it would make a hilarious comedy show but the sad thing is were all in it. The television show, "Yes minister" does seem to be not too far at all, from the truth.

PS: Not everyone who has groceries delivered is in a "privileged position"! A HUGE number are disabled, have no transport or are simply too old...!!!