In its latest move to reduce plastic waste, retail giant Coles has announced that it will soon stop selling single-use plastic tableware and cutlery.

From July 21, 2021, plastic products including cups, plates, bowls, straws and cutlery will be pulled from shelves at Coles supermarkets, Coles Express outlets and Coles Liquor stores across the country. However, if you live in South Australia the ban will come into effect from next week, in line with South Australian law.

Coles CEO Steven Cain said the move will divert 1.5 million kilograms worth of plastic from landfill each year

“Ensuring the sustainability of our business is essential to our future success,” Cain said. “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.

“As a company, we already divert 79 per cent of our waste from landfill and have recycled more than 1 billion pieces of flexible plastic with the support of REDcycle and our customers, since 2011.”

The move, similar to the single-use plastic bag ban that came into effect in 2018, has already stirred debate on social media. While the majority reckon it’s a step in the right direction, others think it’s simply just a “PR stunt”.

“It’s a step,” one commenter wrote. “Banning all unnecessary plastic wrapping would be another step.” Another added: “It is a start. How about an ultimate goal of plastic free.”

However, not everyone was impressed by the announcement. “PR stunt that’s all it is,” one commenter wrote. “Look at all the bakery crap they put out all in single-use plastic containers, pallets of products are delivered every day wrapped in plastic, and they are worried about sustainability?”

Another questioned: “So I wonder where they are going to get all their paper from then, to make paper plates?”

Meanwhile, German retailer Aldi, which stopped selling single-use plastic tableware products last year, congratulated Coles on its decision.

“Aldi Australia stopped selling single use plastic tableware products in 2020,” a spokesperson tells Starts at 60. “We congratulate Coles for following our lead and encourage all retailers to consider their impact on the environment.”

And a spokesperson for Woolworths told Yahoo News Australia that customers can “expect to see” disposable plastic tableware replaced with an “expanded range of sustainable alternatives” in the near future.

So far, Coles has phased out single-use plastic bags, and has drastically reduced the amount of plastic packaging it uses to wrap fresh produce, such as bananas, avocados and kale, and has replaced packaging for meat and poultry products with packaging made from recycled and renewable materials.