Supermarket Plastic

Single use plastics are filling up our oceans. Yet too often we get no say over the plastic packaging on our groceries. Together we’re tackling Supermarket plastics.

 

The Supermarket Plastics Campaign

Responding to a tidal wave of demand from ocean lovers to tackle supermarket plastics, the Australian Marine Conservation Society is partnering with the Boomerang Alliance to deliver a new nationwide campaign. In 2023, we delivered Australia’s first independent annual audit of plastics use across the supermarket sector – giving you the facts on which supermarkets are doing the most to fight plastic.

Our supermarket plastics team is working directly with Australia’s largest supermarkets to investigate the success of plastic reduction efforts, and is supporting their sustainability teams to cut plastic packaging and switch to earth safe alternatives. With your help, we can drive a significant reduction of plastic packaging in one of the largest retail sectors, directly reducing Australia’s plastic footprint.

Reducing supermarket plastics

We have created the first independent annual audit that ranks Australian supermarkets on their plastic packaging practices.

A public scorecard allows consumers to see which supermarkets are doing the most to fight plastic, allowing them to make educated choices about where they shop.

The audit report provides greater transparency around the goals and commitments made by supermarkets to reduce plastic, and whether they have reduced plastic packaging in real terms. It also acts as a guide to help supporters take action to reduce their own plastic footprint and encourage supermarkets to adopt best practice across the sector.

Read the audit here

Supermarkets have huge potential to reduce household plastics, and they don’t have to do it alone. Our dedicated plastics experts are helping supermarkets to implement changes that work.

Following the publication of the 2023 audit report, supermarkets were provided with bespoke recommendations outlining actions they should take to improve their rankings.

In addition, our team is working with supermarket sustainability teams, supporting them to implement best practice plastic reduction initiatives as seen across the sector both at a local and international level.

AMCS and Boomerang Alliance will work with supermarkets to accelerate implementation of legislative and policy changes designed to reduce the use of plastics.

We will assist these powerful market operators to change supplier behavior and advocate for consistent plastic reduction standards across the globe.

The data gathered through the independent audit is also being used to advocate for evidence based policy solutions that address the big barriers stopping supermarkets from reducing plastic.

Plastic packaging is a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution

Soft plastics represents 40% of all plastic packaging found in Australian litter cleanups; the proportion of soft plastics, food packaging, and beverage containers have all increased since 2021.(1)

In Australia, the supermarket sector represents a $130 Billion dollar industry (2) with colossal buying power. While many supermarkets have adopted Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets, including a goal to recycle or compost 70% of plastic packaging by 2025, only 18% of plastic packaging is currently being composted or recycled in Australia.(3)

From manufacturing and distribution through to sale, supermarkets have enormous power to influence the plastics used in our everyday groceries and household goods. We need our supermarkets to  urgently reduce plastic packaging, eliminate unrecyclable plastics and provide refillable alternatives, so that we can have a real shot at stemming the flow of plastic into our oceans.

 

References:

  1. Clean Up Australia. (2022). Rubbish Report 2022
  2. https://www.ibisworld.com/au/industry/supermarkets-grocery-stores/1834/
  3. https://documents.packagingcovenant.org.au/public-documents/Review%20of%20the%202025%20National%20Packaging%20Targets

We will need your help!

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