Supermarkets in Australia are a $130.2 billion industry, responsible for the majority of household plastic packaging.
For far too long, Australian supermarkets have escaped scrutiny for their massive plastic waste. They've been flooding the market with hard-to-recycle packaging, prioritising convenience over environmental health. Without strict laws to limit plastic production, these supermarkets continue to sidestep public accountability, leaving our planet to bear the burden.
What did our 2025 Report Find?
- Hundreds of volunteer mystery shoppers find plastic-free penalty, with loose fresh produce more expensive than the same item wrapped in plastic in 73% of cases
- Inconsistent and limited options when buying groceries online could increase unnecessary plastic on Australian shopping lists
- About 140,000 tonnes of plastic enters the Australian environment every year, with packaging making up 58% of litter collected
Australia’s big supermarkets are adding fuel to the plastic pollution crisis, with all four failing an independent audit into their plastic use, says the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and the Boomerang Alliance (BA). Supermarkets are a $144.3 billion industry in Australia.
Woolworths received scores of 38%, Metcash (IGA, Foodland, Friendly Grocer and Eziway) 26%, Coles 19%, and ALDI 14%. Scores consider five areas: transparency, plastic reduction, reuse, recycling, and policy, planning and governance. Whilst Woolworths and Metcash have made noteworthy improvements since their 2023 scores of 10% and 3% respectively, Coles has lost ground each year and ALDI comes in last after taking top spot in 2023.
What Did Our First Comprehensive Report in 2023 Find?
Ever wondered how your supermarket ranks? You can take a peek at our first-ever independent audit of supermarket plastic use in Australia.
Aldi leads the way in the Australian supermarket sector, achieving the highest score in 2023, with Coles, Woolworths, and Metcash (IGA, Foodland, and others) following.
KEY FINDINGS
- Most supermarkets are not transparent about their plastic footprint.
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Reuse and refill systems need to be scaled up urgently, to provide consumers with cost comparative options without unnecessary plastic packaging
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Leading supermarkets are not prioritising removal of plastic, over-relying on false solutions such as 'lightweighting' - making packaging lighter to claim plastic reductions.
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Loose fresh produce is frequently more expensive than plastic-packed produce, pushing consumers towards unnecessary plastic packaging, and penalises those who try to reduce their plastic consumption in a cost-of-living crisis.
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Supplier packaging guidelines are rarely enforced, allowing suppliers to use whatever packaging option is cheapest or easiest to print marketing material onto.
- Recycling and recycled content was the worst-performing area of all assessed categories. In spite of the message coming from Australian supermarkets, little real progress has been made on increasing the recycled content in plastic packaging, diminishing recycling efforts and the vision of creating a circular economy for plastics in Australia.
Australians have been doing our part- recycling and picking up trash. But unless we stop plastic at the source, it is just a band-aid solution and our incredible marine life will continue to suffer the consequences.
For more information on our report view our audit framework and volunteer surveys.
You Can Help Keep Supermarkets Accountable
For the first time, Australia’s federal, state, and territory governments have come together to develop new laws on plastic packaging, thanks to pressure from Boomerang Alliance supporters like you.
Will you sign the petition supporting laws to cut plastic by 20% by 2030?
Our Wins So Far
- We presented Tanya Plibersek with over 20,000 signatures at Coogee Beach. Check out our 9News coverage here.