Supermarket giant Coles has announced plan to reduce plastic waste by no longer selling single-use plastic tableware products including cups, plates, bowls, straws and cutlery from 1 July 2021*.

The move will divert 1.5 million kilograms worth of single-use plastic from landfill each year.

As an alternative to single-use plastic, customers will instead be offered a range of global forest certification system (FSC certified) tableware and reusable options.

The change is overwhelmingly supported among customers, with a recent Coles survey showing 65 per cent of customers are concerned about the environmental impacts of single use plastic tableware and prefer sustainable alternatives.

Coles chief executive Steven Cain said Coles is committed to environmental leadership.

“This important initiative will not only divert more than 1.5 million kilograms of plastic from landfill each year, it will also help our customers who are telling us they want to make more sustainable choices," Mr Cain said.

ALDI Australia stopped selling single use plastic tableware products in 2020.

Clean Up Australia Chairman Pip Kiernan said single-use plastic tableware is a big problem for the environment.

“During 2020, Clean Up Australia volunteers told us that 18.5 per cent of the plastic items removed through their efforts were single-use cups, plates, bowls, straws, stirrers and cutlery,” she said.

“Too many of these items end up in our parks, waterways, beaches and roadsides and if left there damage our precious environment for hundreds of years, outliving all of us."

*The phase-out across Coles Group outlets will be complete by 1 July 2021, with stores in South Australia phasing out the legislated single-use plastic tableware by 1 March 2021, in line with South Australian law.

What should supermarkets do next to reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill?