Coles has diverted 1.7 billion lightweight single-use plastic bags from landfill since removing them from checkouts a year ago, with customers choosing reusable Community Bags and raising $2.5 million for charities. New data reveals Coles customers have changed their shopping habits significantly in the past 12 months, with seven in 10 now remembering to bring their own reusable bags every time they shop and a further two in 10 bringing them on more occasions than not.
Chief Operating Officer Greg Davis said the removal of single-use plastic carry bags is one of the ways that Coles is working towards becoming Australia’s most sustainable supermarket. “When we announced in 2017 that we would remove lightweight single-use plastic bags from our stores, we knew we would have to support customers to help them form new shopping habits,” he said. “Our Community Bags are one way we have helped customers who forget to bring their bags from home.”
“We partner with a range of community groups who benefit from the sale of our Community Bags and it is fantastic to see the positive outcomes achieved through the sale of these bags in just 12 months.” Coles’ range of Community Bags has now raised more than $2.5 million for community organisations such as SecondBite, Guide Dogs, Little Athletics, Clean Up Australia, and Aspect schools.
Guide Dogs Australia National Corporate Partnerships Manager Caroline Lee said the charity was extremely grateful to Coles for the ongoing support provided through the Community Bag program. “Over the past 12 months Coles have contributed over $580,000 to Guide Dogs Australia through the sales of the Community Bags,” she said. With these funds, we are thrilled to announce that an additional 12 puppies can be trained to help provide independence, freedom, and mobility to people in the community living with low vision or blindness.”
