Major milk makeover at Coles: See how it affects 2L and 3L sizes!

Attention all Coles shoppers—there's a fresh change splashing into the dairy aisle that's bound to make your next pour a little smoother and the planet a tad happier.

For years, those tiny seals have been the sticky gatekeepers to your fresh milk, a small but notable nuisance that also contributed to plastic waste.

This move isn't just about customer convenience, it’s a significant step toward sustainability.


Coles recently announced an eco-conscious decision that will affect milk lovers across Australia: the popular 2-litre and 3-litre milk bottles are shedding their plastic seals for good.

They had taken a deep dive into their packaging practices, and decided it's time for a fresher look at how their milk packaging fits into an environmentally friendly future.

Until recently, Coles employed seals that were cumbersome for customers, requiring them to be pulled off after removing the lid from a new carton.

These seals were intended to minimise the risk of spills and leaks.


Screenshot 2024-03-06 071203.jpg
A shopper shared a photo of a Coles milk bottle with the old seal with the Coles signage informing customers of the change in milk bottle seals in the background. Credits: X


Coles implemented signages in numerous stores nationwide to inform customers about the change, which is reportedly being shown in all stores across the country.

According to a spokesperson for the supermarket, this change signifies that Coles milk cartons are now recyclable.

‘Coles is always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary plastic from circulation, and while our seals were originally used to reduce instances of leaking bottles, over time, packaging design of both the bottle and the lid have improved, and the seals are no longer required,’ the spokesperson said.

‘This decision to no longer require seals on Coles milk will see more than 10,000kg of plastic removed from circulation when this packaging change is completed nationally.’


A Coles shopper noticed the alteration, and shared a picture of signage displayed in stores, informing customers of the update.

According to 7NEWS, Coles' milk suppliers have dedicated the past year to transitioning their processing facilities to enable this modification, although not all sites have yet implemented the updated packaging.

Since not all suppliers have completed the transition, the signage in the social media post seems to have been incorrectly displayed in the given state. Coles is currently looking into the matter.


This is not the first change that Coles made in its own brand of milk this year.

Just recently, Coles lowered prices after facing criticism due to a price hike last year. You can read the full details here.

This milkshake-up is a small part of a much larger drink—one of stewardship and responsibility.

So, next time you grab that bottle of Coles milk, remember, every little change contributes to a greener future.

Key Takeaways
  • Coles is phasing out the use of plastic bottle seals on its own brand 2L and 3L milk cartons to reduce unnecessary plastic waste.
  • The removal of the seals came after improvements in packaging design, which made the seals redundant for preventing leaks.
  • More than 10,000kg of plastic is expected to be removed from circulation once the change is fully implemented nationally.
  • While Coles is rolling out this change across the country, the transition is ongoing and not all milk suppliers have updated their packaging yet.

Are Coles' new milk bottles making a splash in your daily routine? What do you think about this packaging change? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
 
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Does that mean the outer top has a tamper proof seal?

Apologies for the question, haven't bought Coles milk recently, would be concerned if there was no tamper proof top.
 
Why did they do it in the first place with everyone being so "eco" conscious? Hmm that slipped through to the keeper 🤔 🤣
 
We only buy 1L milk as only my husband uses it for coffee so won't be a problem for us but hopefully it is an improvement
 
Does that mean the outer top has a tamper proof seal?

Apologies for the question, haven't bought Coles milk recently, would be concerned if there was no tamper proof top.
Most other brands of milk don't have that top ,there is a seal that needs to be broken on the actual plastic cap.
 
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They are removing 10,000kg of plastic, ok. They are also saving a sizeable amount of money, not using it.
It's all about their bottom dollar. 🤑
 
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Reactions: Marybell
This is a good move for the environment but I hope they have improved the sealing of the bottle. Prior to the addition of this small seal I found that there was frequent leakage if the bottle fell over in my car boot on the way home from shopping or if the bottle was laying down in the fridge
 
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My Coles in Salisbury Downs, South Australia hasn't had these seals on their Coles 3 litre milks for ages and we are now back to having the leakage of milk....grrr! A step backwards if you ask me!!
I buy 4 x 3litre Coles milk every week with my shopping, 2 get stored in my fridge door and 2 are laid down on the bottom shelf of my fridge and quite often they.....leak!!
Maybe they need to look at the design factor of their screw caps also!
 
Our Coles milk has not had these pull-off tops on the 2 litre milk since before Christmas. I did wonder at the time of why it was but had seen no notice of why until now.
 
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Our Coles milk has not had these pull-off tops on the 2 litre milk since before Christmas. I did wonder at the time of why it was but had seen no notice of why until now.
Same here maggiej, and we had no notices on our shelves about their removal either!
 
Woolworths in South Australia haven't had seals on their milk bottles for quite some time - in fact I can't remember when they they stopped. I only come across seals when I go interstate.
 
It has been several months since they have had the seal in South Australia, once again these wonderful people who bring us updates on things and give us a lovely newsletter each day are again behind the times or is it also once again where they live I assume NSW or Victoria, things like seals no longer use ie: from coles milk is only just happening there? I love this newsletter but I sometimes think why are they reporting something that has happened months ago or repeating something as if it's the first time we have heard it. As for the actual article, I do think it was a waste of time and money to put a little seal on that at times was very hard to get off, I for one am happy to have no seal on the inside of a sealed bottle of milk.
 

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