The bags will help Australia meet its 2025 National Packaging Targets, which include increasing the quantity of recycled material in packaging
Coles launches shopping bags made from marine waste and recycled plastic across its stores in Australia. (Credit: Coles Group)
Australian supermarket chain Coles has launched new shopping bags made from marine waste and recycled plastic across its supermarkets around the country.
The reusable shopping bags are made from 80% recycled plastic including 20% marine waste plastic, recovered from ocean-feeding waterways and inland areas within Malaysia.
The new bags are part of Coles’ Together to Zero waste ambition to reduce the need for virgin plastic and remove waste from the environment.
Coles chief sustainability, property and export officer Thinus Keevé said: “We’re proud to be providing practical and convenient shopping bags which make it easier for our customers to shop while supporting a circular economy for plastic bags and packaging.
“We encourage our customers to reuse their bags as often as possible, but when they do reach the end of their useful life, these bags can be recycled through soft plastic collections in any our stores at the REDcycle drop off points.
“Coles and our customers have collected more than 2.3 billion pieces of soft plastic through REDcycle since 2011 and we plan to continue this journey to divert plastic packaging from landfill.”
The bags will help Australia meet its 2025 National Packaging Targets, which include increasing the quantity of recycled material in packaging.
Coles also pledged to donate 10 per cent from the sale of every Marine Reusable Shopping Bag to support Clean up Australia’s Buy Recycled program.
The new product is the latest addition to the firm’s series of sustainable product and packaging initiatives.
Additionally, the firm is launching reusable mesh produce bags for customers to purchase and reuse when they purchase fruits and vegetables.
The mesh produced bags are made from 90% recycled material, which helps customers limit their usage of single-use plastics when shopping.
Coles’ bags are available for 25c each at supermarkets in all states except Western Australia.
Last month, Coles decided to eliminate plastic measuring scoops from its own-brand laundry powders.