Australian Supermarket started plastic reduction initiative

The details revealed in an audit of Australian supermarket efforts to cut down plastic packaging are “disturbing” but not surprising, an expert in plastic waste says.

The report released by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Boomerang Alliance today found all supermarkets were not doing enough to cut their plastic use in line with national targets.

ALDI came out on top with a score of two out of five for categories including transparency, plastic reduction, reusables, and recycling.

The German supermarket giant was followed by Coles with one and a half, Woolworths with one, and much smaller Metcash — which runs franchise models with IGA and Foodlands — with zero.

Associate professor Tillman Boehme, a University of Wollongong expert in circular economies and plastic waste, said the findings “are quite disturbing”.

The Unwrapped: Plastic Use in Australian Supermarkets report is based on data provided by the supermarkets, public reports, and shopper surveys in 2022.

AMCS plastics campaign manager Shane Cucow said it was disappointing to see Woolworths — the largest retailer by market share — rank last of the big supermarkets.