{"id":103763,"date":"2025-05-22T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T03:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/?p=103763"},"modified":"2025-05-22T12:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:48:18","slug":"coles-under-fire-for-contradictory-messages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/coles-under-fire-for-contradictory-messages\/","title":{"rendered":"Coles Under Fire for Contradictory Plastic Messages Amid Rising Pollution Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A viral image posted by a customer has drawn fresh attention to Coles<\/em> and its environmental claims, after two directly adjacent signs in the supermarket\u2019s fresh produce section sent conflicting messages about plastic use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One urged shoppers to skip plastic bags for loose fruits and vegetables, while the other justified plastic wrapping for cucumbers to extend shelf life. The apparent contradiction has sparked widespread backlash and accusations of greenwashing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7NEWS<\/a><\/em> reported on the growing criticism, highlighting public frustration over what many see as corporate messaging that reveals little real change. In response, Coles<\/em> has issued statements that remain vague and largely noncommittal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back-To-Back Signage Sparks Confusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the fruit and vegetable section of a Coles<\/em> store<\/a>, two signs were placed directly back-to-back. One read: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you really need a bag? Place your loose fruit & veg directly into the basket.<\/em> – The other stated<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We wrap cucumbers to stay fresh longer.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The visual contradiction quickly drew attention online and triggered a broader debate about retailer responsibility in plastic usage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Backlash Over Perceived Blame Shifting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Social media users were quick to voice their frustration at what they viewed as misplaced accountability. One Reddit user wrote: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They use plastic with pretty much every product, yet put the blame on us for using a plastic bag at checkout and to bag our fruit and veg. It\u2019s all crap. Plastic is the customer\u2019s fault? Look around, Coles, WE aren\u2019t the problem.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another added: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yes, we need bags. It\u2019s never been about the environment it\u2019s about control and money. If Coles and Woolworths regularly had their trolleys and baskets pressure cleaned… you wouldn\u2019t need bags.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These comments reflect growing consumer skepticism<\/strong> toward corporate sustainability narratives that appear inconsistent with on-shelf practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coles Defends Its Sustainability Policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In response to questions from 7NEWS.com.au<\/em>, a Coles<\/em> spokesperson reaffirmed the company\u2019s environmental efforts: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coles is committed to reducing unnecessary plastic and making our packaging easier to recycle.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

They elaborated: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We encourage our customers to purchase loose fruit and vegetables as just a way to help reduce the use of single-use plastic bags<\/em> – Coles also pointed to new packaging innovations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers can now purchase grapes in bags that are recyclable in household recycling bins rather than single-use plastic. Last year we trialled fibre-based blueberry packaging in recyclable cardboard punnets and also introduced Coles\u2019 Unique Selection mandarins in a recyclable bag.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Additional efforts include the sale of reusable tote, chiller, and mesh produce bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts Question Efficacy of Plastic-Based Solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Environmental scientist Paul Harvey<\/em> expressed doubt about the actual benefits of these practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I always ask, if a plastic package can extend the shelf life of a \u2018fresh\u2019 food item for days or weeks, then what is the nutritional value of that product?<\/em> – he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Companies like Coles and Woolworths have publicly committed to reducing plastic in their supply chains, like reuseable mesh produce bags.\u00a0Credit:\u00a0coles.com.au<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He argued that plastic wrapping fails to prevent waste: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The reality is, there is copious volumes of food waste each day, and this happens regardless of the item being wrapped in plastic<\/em> – Furthermore, he added: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often when the item has been on the shelf too long the item will get thrown into the garbage still wrapped in plastic, heading straight for one of those near-capacity landfills.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Superficial Measures and Retail Contradictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harvey was also critical of the symbolic nature of many supermarket initiatives: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Supermarkets run a \u2018plastic free\u2019 campaign while at the same time have a giveaway that includes useless plastic figurines.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He suggested that real change would require supply chain reform<\/a><\/strong>, not marketing gestures: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If the supermarkets used their market power to put pressure on manufacturers to reduce or remove plastic from packaging then we would begin to see a drastic decline in plastic and other waste management challenges.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Packaging Priorities: Not Quality, but Saleability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Harvey, most plastic packaging in fresh food departments has less to do with protecting the product and more with sales and inventory control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Most of the plastic packaging that is used in the fresh food departments has little to do with product quality control, and more to do with saleability of the product… or stock inventory control<\/em> – he explained.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He further emphasized the sector\u2019s role in the crisis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The products that big retailers sell are one of the largest contributors to the plastic pollution crisis.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Greenwashing and Misleading Labels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The expert also raised concerns about misleading environmental claims<\/strong> on packaging: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Often the packages contain baseless claims about containing \u2018near ocean\u2019, \u2018ocean bound\u2019 or \u2018compostable\u2019 materials.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He warned that it is increasingly hard for shoppers to discern legitimate environmental products: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is very difficult for consumers to actually know what is good and what is greenwashing.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Critics argue that Coles promotes sustainability while continuing to rely heavily on plastic packaging, pointing to a gap between public messaging and in-store practices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":103766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103763"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103767,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103763\/revisions\/103767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}