Family-owned Harris Farm Markets has renewed its call to the NSW state Government to ban single-use plastic bags after Coles Supermarkets today announced their plan to give out re-usable plastic bags indefinitely.
“We’re really disappointed by the decision from Coles Supermarkets this morning to backflip on their plastic bag ban and give out re-usable plastic bags free of charge indefinitely,” says Angus Harris, Co-CEO of Harris Farm Markets.
“We now renew our call to Gladys Berejiklian and the State Government to enforce a ban of single use plastic bags immediately. We also call on the Board of Coles to reconsider this decision for the sake of our planet.”
Harris continues with a plea to Woolworths to not follow suit.
“Also, a public message to Brad Banducci and the team at Woolworths – please don’t follow suit.
“Giving away re-usable plastic bags is an environmental disaster, this just increases the amount of plastic that will now make its way into our waterways. Removing plastic bags from our checkout registers at the beginning of the year was not easy and we are really grateful for all the hard work and support from our customers and our team.”
Harris Farm Markets removed all plastic bags from the registers of their stores in January this year, replacing them with re-usable paper bags and cardboard boxes for customers to use, free of charge. Since then, Harris estimates the reduction to be around 15 million single use plastic bags saved from landfill and our waterways.
Harris Farm Markets has been a long-term supporter of reducing plastic bag use, including previously partnering with Clean Up Australia on the issue and always having alternative carry bag options at the checkout.
Clean Up Australia Managing Director Terrie-Ann Johnson says this afternoon: “Clean Up shares shopper disappointment and dismay at this turnaround by Coles.
“Working with their teams in the lead up to the campaign to replace single use bags, we were inspired by and supported Coles’ nationwide desire to replace single use plastics. Today’s announcement that the spotted plastic bag will continue to be a free feature at the checkout is a breach of faith. We ask all shoppers to let Coles know this is not what shoppers want by saying NO to plastic at the checkout.”
