How to reduce plastic in your grocery shop at Woolworths, Coles or Aldi

Plastic is everywhere, and by design, it’s made to last decades, if not hundreds of years. It’s incredibly useful, but bad for us and the environment.

If you’re trying to cut down on single-use plastic at home, your local supermarket is one of the easiest (and most powerful) places to start. Woolworths, Coles and Aldi stock thousands of everyday items, and with a few simple habits you can dramatically reduce the plastic that ends up in your kitchen bin — or worse, in landfill or the ocean.

Australia generates 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, much of it from packaging.

The good news? Every time you choose loose produce, a paper bag or a recyclable alternative, you send a clear message to the big supermarkets.

And the even better news? These swaps are straightforward, budget-friendly and already available at your nearest Woolies, Coles or Aldi.

Why our shopping matters

Plastic Free July began right here in Australia (Perth, 2011) and has become a global movement. It reminds us that small, consistent choices add up.

Independent audits by the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Boomerang Alliance show that while our major supermarkets have made progress — Woolworths leading the 2025 audit with 38%, followed by Coles and Aldi — none have yet achieved a passing grade across transparency, reduction, reuse and recycling.

That’s where we as individuals can make a difference. By voting with our trolleys we encourage faster change.

There are five simple things we can do to swap to plastic-free today.

5 easy plastic-free swaps you can make today

1. Ditch the single use bags for fruit and veg

Bring your own reusable mesh or fabric produce bags (many are sold near the entrance for just a couple of dollars). Use a cardboard box, like at the local greengrocers, or simply place loose items straight into your trolley. Start with bananas, apples, potatoes, onions, carrots and citrus — all commonly sold loose.

2. Choose packaging wisely

Scan for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) — the little logo that tells you exactly what can go in your yellow bin or soft-plastics return point (if you have them locally).

  • Opt for glass jars (pasta sauces, jams, olives) over plastic tubs.

  • Pick cardboard boxes for cereals, pasta and rice instead of plastic-wrapped multipacks.

  • Aldi has removed plastic straws from all drink cartons and replaced many black plastic trays with recyclable alternatives.

  • Woolworths has introduced bread bags made with 30% recycled plastic and paper-based meat trays that cut virgin plastic use significantly.

  • Coles are trialling cardboard produce boxes and compostable options.

3. Grab a reusable bag and keep in your car

It is great that single-use plastic bags have been banned nationwide for years. The reusable ones sold at checkout are cheap and sturdy and have many uses, outside the supermarket, for beach days, picnics, gym stuff etc. Aldi’s “Le Bag Recycle” has 80% recycled content and Coles/Woolworths’ own-brand totes last well. Keep a few in your car so you’re never caught short.

4. Return soft plastics where you can

After the collapse of the REDcycle program in 2022, nationwide in-store collection points for soft plastics became unavailable for several years. The good news is that limited collections have now restarted through a pilot program run by Woolworths, Coles and Aldi (via the new Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia scheme).

At the moment, clean and dry soft plastics (such as bread bags, frozen vegetable bags, biscuit wrappers, chip packets, cling wrap and outer packaging) can be returned to special bins at selected stores — primarily in New South Wales and Victoria, with around 500 participating Woolworths, Coles and Aldi locations. Trials are gradually expanding to parts of south-east Queensland, the ACT and Adelaide. Check with your local store for details.

5. Start small with everyday staples

Here are a few ideas you could tick off at any supermarket to start off with:

  • Buy loose fruit and veg

  • Buy glass bottles instead of plastic (e.g. tonic water, cordials, sauces)

  • Choose muesli or oats packed in cardboard

  • Look for products in paper not plastic (For example, Woolworths have removed plastic pouches from their Macro brand dried fruit, now paper based which can be recycled)

  • Look out for fully recyclable or biodegradable cleaning products.

Start with just one or two swaps on your next shop and build from there. You’ll be amazed how quickly it becomes second nature.

Research commissioned by the WWF and the Plastic Free Foundation shows that 85% of Australians want to reduce their use of disposable plastics.

Ready to take the next step and buy some new items?

Look at our other product examples and blogs for inspiration.

Kitchen utensils
Chopping boards
Food storage
Water bottles

Our sources

We want to be transparent about where our facts and data have come from. In a world of ‘fake news’ and AI, its good to be clear about information, so that you can trust it.

Research commissioned by the WWF and the Plastic Free Foundation shows that 85% of Australians want to reduce their use of disposable plastics. The desire is there. What most of us need is a clear, manageable starting point.

Your home is the best place to begin. Not because individual action solves everything — it doesn't, and policy change matters enormously — but because the home is where you have the most control, where the health benefits are most direct, and where small changes compound into meaningful habits.

Look at our other product examples and blogs for inspiration.

Kitchen utensils
Chopping boards
Food storage
Water bottles