Hundreds of volunteer mystery shoppers have revealed that buying plastic-free fresh produce often comes at a higher cost, with loose items more expensive than their pre-packaged equivalents in 73% of cases.

The findings, published today in the third annual Unwrapped Audit, also highlight the inconsistent and limited options for Australians buying groceries online, factors that could unintentionally increase plastic use.

The audit, conducted by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and the Boomerang Alliance (BA), also found that Australia’s largest supermarkets are failing to address the nation’s growing plastic pollution crisis. Around 140,000 tonnes of plastic enter the Australian environment every year, with packaging accounting for 58% of litter collected.

Big supermarkets failing on plastic reduction

The audit assessed Australia’s four major supermarket groups: Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, and Metcash (IGA, Foodland, Friendly Grocer, and Eziway), across five areas: transparency, plastic reduction, reuse, recycling, and policy, planning, and governance.

• Woolworths scored 38%

• Metcash 26%

• Coles 19%

• ALDI 14%

While Woolworths and Metcash have made notable improvements since 2023 (from 10% and 3% respectively), Coles has declined year-on-year, and ALDI dropped from the top spot in 2023 to last place.

“Supermarkets are sweeping the plastic pollution crisis under the shelf,” said AMCS Program Manager Tara Jones. “Despite selecting loose produce online, shoppers often received groceries overwrapped in plastic. We even saw single garlic bulbs packed in their own plastic bags. If online orders are contributing to more single-use plastic, urgent action is needed.”

Plastic-free produce comes at a premium

The audit involved hundreds of volunteer shoppers collecting price data, revealing that loose fresh produce is often more expensive than packaged alternatives. For example, loose oranges averaged $4.24 per kilogram, compared with $2.49 per kilogram pre-packaged.

“Australians trying to make sustainable choices are being penalised,” Jones said. “People should be able to trust that ‘loose produce’ actually means plastic-free, both in-store and online. Supermarkets must provide more plastic-free options and publicly report the amount of packaging used across supply chains.”

Urgent action needed

Boomerang Alliance Director Jeff Angel warned that the plastic crisis has serious environmental and health consequences. “Packaging now makes up 58% of litter collected by Clean Up Australia volunteers, much of it from supermarket shelves. Without strong action, plastic production, which is projected to triple by 2060, will send pollution spiralling out of control.”

We are calling on both supermarkets and government to implement mandatory reuse targets and an extended producer responsibility scheme, making retailers and brands financially accountable for the waste they generate.

The Unwrapped Audit 2025 was launched at a press conference this morning outside the Coles Group AGM in Melbourne.

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