AUSTRALIA | Australia’s leading fresh produce grower, Costa, has partnered with Coles and Opal in a large-scale trial to transition packaging for Perino tomatoes from rPET plastic to recyclable cardboard packaging across Coles’ Victorian stores.
This initiative underscored a shared commitment to reducing plastic packaging and supports Coles’ circularity targets to increase the recyclability of packaging.
“We know Perino tomatoes are a household favourite for many of our customers, and this trial is a meaningful step in reducing plastic in our stores whilst ensuring our customers who love to eat Perino tomatoes can still enjoy them at the highest quality,” said Brooke Donnelly, General Manager Sustainability, Coles.
The new cardboard Costa Perino packs, designed and manufactured by Opal and made from recycled paper, are being trialled to replace Costa’s existing 80 percent rPET punnets. This change was designed to reduce the industry’s reliance on plastic.
“This trial marks a major milestone in Costa’s packaging transformation journey,” said Manpreet Sidhu, Chief Operating Officer, Domestic Produce at Costa Group.
“Costa is proud to be taking meaningful action to meet APCO’s national packaging targets, while recognising that consumers are increasingly demanding environmentally sustainable solutions.”
Now available in Coles’ Victorian stores, the trial will provide valuable insights into packaging performance, product quality, consumer response, and supply chain integration. A successful outcome could pave the way for a national rollout, increasing the presence of cardboard packaging alternatives in the fresh produce industry.
Key benefits of the trial include:
- A significant reduction in plastic in Perino Tomato packaging
- Packaging made from recyclable cardboard
- Improved environmental footprint across the product lifecycle
- Stronger alignment with APCO National Packaging Targets
With sustainability and innovation at its core, Costa is committed to reimagining packaging for a better future, leading the way in reducing Australia’s packaging waste and setting a powerful example for the industry.
