Coles Plastic Packaging Outrage: Paper Bags Push Slammed

A concerned shopper has voiced criticism against Coles, alleging the supermarket prioritizes profit from paper bag sales over environmental responsibility due to its pervasive use of plastic packaging. The customer shared a video highlighting the significant amount of plastic wrapping on products while shoppers are compelled to buy paper bags. This move by Coles and other major supermarkets in mid-2018 shifted the cost of bags to consumers, potentially increasing supermarket revenue.

Coles has stated that plastic packaging is essential for protecting fresh produce, ensuring quality, and preventing food waste during transportation. They also claim to be committed to reducing unnecessary plastic and improving recycling options, noting that phasing out soft plastic shopping bags in 2023 has removed an estimated 230 million bags annually. However, recent audits suggest that Australian supermarkets, including Coles, are not adequately addressing the plastic pollution crisis, with packaging being a major contributor to litter.