Coles single use plastic tableware items will be removed from July 1

Supermarket aisles in Coles are about to be stripped bare again — but not from the panic buying of toilet paper in lockdown.

Supermarket aisles in Coles are about to be stripped bare again — but not from the panic buying of toilet paper in lockdown.

Instead, all single-use plastic tableware will be removed from shelves including cups, plates, bowls, straws and cutlery.

These non-recyclable items will no longer be sold at Coles supermarkets, Express and liquor stores from Thursday July 1 in every other state and territory except South Australia, where single-use plastic tableware was phased out in March this year.

The items are being replaced with alternatives including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified tableware like timber cutlery and paper plates and other reusable options.

It comes as the Coles Group releases its Coles’ Sustainability Strategy on Wednesday.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the Morrison Government welcomed their leadership on the elimination of plastics.

Coles removes its single use plastic tableware from all stores this week. Picture: Supplied

“We welcome Coles’ leadership, providing their customers alternatives to single use plastic tableware products, which will result in an annual diversion of 1.5 million kilograms of single use plastic from landfill,” she said.

Clean Up Australia Chairman Pip Kiernan said 95 per cent of their volunteers surveyed have backed the phasing out of problematic single use plastics.

“These items are not recyclable, they are designed to be used once and discarded, going to landfill and many ending up in our environment as litter,” she said.

“Last year our volunteers reported that over half of all items they collected were plastic or contained plastic.”

Empty shelves at the Coles at Fifteenth St, Mildura, from lockdown issues. Picture: Twitter

The Coles Group Sustainability Strategy is aligned with and supports the achievement of nine of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water and life on land.

The supermarket’s ‘Together to Zero’ strategy was first unveiled in March when Coles announced emissions targets including a commitment to be 100 per cent powered by renewable electricity by the end of the financial year of 2025.

‘Better Together’ recognises that when working together, the Coles Group team, suppliers and customers can make a real difference to the communities in which they work and live.

It sets out the framework to create a team, community, sourcing and farming that is better together.