Coles launches innovative BYO container trial in select stores

Coles has announced the launch of an innovative new trial in eight South Australian stores to help encourage shoppers to bring their own containers when purchasing deli products.

The latest initiative in Coles "Together to Zero" waste ambition, the trial will allow customers to to bring reusable containers from home as part of the supermarket’s latest bid to reduce plastic waste.

Coles deli chicken area
Coles is trialling an innovative program in eight SA stores that allows customers to bring their own deli containers from home. Source: Coles/Getty

From today, customers who bring in clean reusable containers with a resealable lid into participating stores can ask Coles deli staff to pack their cold cuts, small goods, and other popular deli buys.

General Manager Bakery, Deli, Seafood Andy Mossop said Coles is always looking for ways to reduce reliance on unnecessary packaging, while giving customers sustainable options to help them complete their shop.

Coles customers exit store with groceries
Coles is also making strides in its ambition to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket by reducing unnecessary plastics. Source: Getty

“We are trialling bring-your-own containers at a handful of Coles supermarket delis in South Australia to understand how best to provide this option to customers while continuing to meet stringent food safety standards,” he said.

“We will be looking closely at how our South Australian customers respond, and the feedback and insights will inform our consideration for potentially rolling this out to more stores in South Australia, or around Australia.”

Coles trials BYO deli containers across eight SA stores

The BYO deli container trial will run across eight of Coles' SA stores, including:

  • Firle

  • Unley

  • Bridgewater

  • Blackwood

  • St Peters

  • Burnside

  • Mount Barker

  • Murray Bridge

The BYO container trial is optional and available to those interested in taking part, so customers who forget to bring their containers can still have their deli items packed, wrapped, and scanned as usual.

Coles appears to be following in the footsteps of competitor Woolworths, who unveiled its own BYO container trial at all Tasmanian stores in November, following a successful trial at the Crows Nest store in NSW.

Coles scraps single-use plastic fresh produce bags

The move comes is the latest sustainability initiative from Coles, who announced last week that they will be scrapping single-use plastic fresh produce bags from all 12 ACT stores from Wednesday, September 14.

To help shoppers make the switch to reusable bags, Coles will be offering ACT customers who spend $5 in-store on fresh fruit and veggies a free three-pack of reusable mesh fresh produce bags.

Customers can stock up on recycled fresh produce bags from ACT Coles supermarkets from Wednesday 31 August until Tuesday, September 13 – when the retailer scraps single-use plastic produce bags.

Coles has announced it will trial removing single-use plastic fresh produce bags from stores in the ACT from September 14. Source: Coles
Coles has announced it will trial removing single-use plastic fresh produce bags from stores in the ACT from September 14. Source: Coles

Coles is also making great strides in its ambition to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket by reducing unnecessary plastics in Own Brand products.

Earlier this year, Coles removed plastic scoops from Coles Tropical Paradise and Coles Ultra Original and Sensitive laundry powders, saving three tonnes of plastic in a single year.

The supermarket also rolled out its Marine Reusable Shopping Bags, made with 80 per cent recycled plastic, including 20 per cent marine waste collected from coastlines, beaches and waterways.

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