AUSTRALIA | In a move to reduce plastic waste and the use of single-use plastic bags in its fresh produce department, Coles has launched a new trial that will give customers the option to use a cardboard box when buying loose fruit and vegetables.
Customers can reuse one of the cardboard boxes used to deliver fresh fruit and vegetables to Coles stores. This will give the box a second life and help shoppers reduce the need for plastic bags in the fresh produce department.
The plastic-free alternative is free of charge and can collect loose fresh produce items in select stores. Customers can then use the boxes to carry items home, where they can be recycled or leave the box at the checkout for another customer.
The eight-week trial will occur in five stores: Prahan and Waverly Gardens in Melbourne, Noosa Heads in Queensland, Ocean Shores in New South Wales, and the Perth suburb of Hilton.
Coles Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer Matt Swindells said not only does the initiative help reduce the use of single-use plastic produce bags, but the cardboard boxes provide a free solution for those who forget their reusable shopping bags.
“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,” said Swindells.
“The great thing about these boxes is that they fit easily in your trolley and can be taken home and recycled or left at the store for someone else to use again. It also brings a local grocer feel to your shop while helping to create a more sustainable future.”
According to a Coles survey, 8 in 10 shoppers felt it was important for produce packaging to be recyclable, while 61 percent of interviewed customers felt optimistic about the cardboard box solution.
Coles partner Planet Ark Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Gilling said the initiative was an excellent way to encourage customers to purchase loose fruit and vegetables and reduce the use of plastic fresh produce bags.
“Coles is providing its customers with a way to reduce their use of plastic. Not only is this encouraging more customers to buy loose, but it’s also helping to advance the circular economy by giving those used cardboard boxes a second life and helping to reduce our need for single-use plastic bags,” said Gilling.
The boxes, previously used to transport fresh fruit and vegetables, have been made available in the fresh produce department and at the checkouts of participating stores.
