Australian supermarket chain Coles has launched shopping bags with 80% recycled plastic and 20% ocean waste plastic.
Marine waste for retailers’ marine reusable shopping bags is recovered from Malaysia’s marine waterways and inland areas.
The bags are in line with Coles’ ‘Zero Waste Together’ ambition and will accelerate Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Target, which is primarily aimed at increasing the use of recycled content in packaging.
Reusable bags are being rolled out in Coles supermarkets in all Australian states, except Western Australia.Each pack is priced at AUD 0.25 (USD 0.17).
Thinus Keevé, Chief Sustainability, Property and Export Officer at Coles, said: “We are proud to offer practical and convenient shopping bags that make shopping easier for our customers while supporting a circular economy for plastic bags and packaging.
“We encourage our customers to reuse their bags as much as possible, but when they reach the end of their useful life, these bags can be recycled through the soft plastic collectors at any of our store’s REDcycle collection points.
“Coles and our customers have collected over 2.3 billion pieces of soft plastic through REDcycle since 2011, and we plan to continue this journey by diverting plastic packaging from landfill.”
The introduction of ocean waste shopping bags is the latest move by supermarkets to improve the sustainability of their products and packaging.
The retailer has also launched at-home compostable coffee capsules made from biocellulose and vegetable oils under its Coles Urban Coffee Culture brand.