Most Australians want major supermarkets to take action to reduce their plastic use, even though the federal government has put packaging reform on hold citing cost-of-living pressures, according to new polling released on October 27, 2026.
The YouGov poll of 1,504 Australian voters found that 62% believe Coles and Woolworths are not doing enough to address plastic pollution, while only 17% said the two chains are adequately addressing it and 21% were unsure. The sentiment was shared across the political spectrum and across age groups. Seven in ten respondents (70%) said major supermarkets should publicly report how much plastic they use each year, while 92% could not name any companies leading on plastic responsibility.
The findings were released as part of a campaign by SIX, the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Future Super, calling on supermarkets to disclose their plastic use, set public reduction targets and report on progress each year. Woolworths disclosed its plastic intensity score, the average mass of plastic packaging per item sold, for the first time in August 2026, while Coles has not yet matched that step.
Major supermarkets control the packaging requirements of their own-brand products, the campaigners note, which is why they argue the chains themselves, rather than shoppers alone, hold the key to cutting the plastic on shelves.
Read also: EU readies major investment in Australian critical minerals and Australia’s new biometric visa rule for India explained
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.