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Coles makes huge change that will alter the way you shop: 'About time'

Customers have welcomed the supermarket giant's new scheme to reduce plastic bags.

Coles is rolling out a new scheme that will be a game-changer for customers who hate collecting plastic bags every time they shop. Ecstatic shoppers were delighted to discover that the Australian supermarket giant is introducing a new way to pick up their Click & Collect orders by giving customers the option to have their orders packed in reusable boxes through an initiative called "Swap-a-box".

Swap-a-box, which is currently on trial in three Tasmanian stores, is expected to be expanded to all 17 Coles supermarkets in the state from next week. It's also being trialled at Coles shops in Woodend in regional Victoria, as well as Melbourne's Southland and Western Australia's Inglewood.

Coles Click & Collect
Coles Click & Collect customers can soon say goodbye to plastic bags, thanks to the supermarket's new Swap-a-box initiative. Source: Getty

'Swap-a-box' a welcome move

News of the change broke on social media when a shopper posted about it on Facebook, expressing delight. "Woo-hoo, finally I won't have a billion Coles bags filling up my cupboard," the customer rejoiced in the post.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed with Yahoo News Australia that the program is currently being trialled at select stores. "The initiative, known as Swap-a-box, is designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and help Coles achieve its Together to Zero waste ambitions," the spokesperson said. "The response from customers has been very positive and we look forward to rolling out the Swap-a-box option nationally."

The Swap-a-boxes can be returned to stores, where Coles will clean them and prepare them to be used again. "To say thank you for returning your Swap-a-box, you'll receive a card with a promo code to get the cost of your next Swap-a-box on us," the note reads.

Reducing plastic waste

Over the years, Coles and rival Woolworths, have been on a campaign to reduce plastic waste at their stores as part of their commitment to make all their plastics recyclable, reusable and compostable by 2025 under the Plastic Pact.

Coles, for one, has been trialling other initiatives such as removing plastic bags from the fruit and vegetable aisles. Woolworths also began to phase out its plastic shopping bags last year and is expected to complete the move by June 2023.

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