Coles raises paper bag price by 20 per cent amid cost pressures
Coles has raised the price of its paper shopping bags from 25 cents to 30 cents, a 20 per cent increase, prompting criticism from some shoppers and staff. The change adds to pressure on household budgets and renews debate about charging for bags that were once free.
The supermarket said higher material and transport costs led to the increase, while encouraging customers to bring reusable bags or reuse existing ones. Prices for other bags have also risen, including larger chiller bags from $4 to $4.20; Coles’ online bag fee remains $2, after rising from $1.50 in May. Australian supermarkets phased out free single-use plastic bags in 2018, citing environmental concerns.
- Coles paper bags now cost 30 cents, up from 25 cents.
- The supermarket cites rising material and transport costs.
- Its online bag fee remains $2.
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Coles is one of Australia's largest supermarket chains, serving millions of households with weekly shopping trips. Since 2018, when Australia phased out free single-use plastic bags, supermarkets have charged customers for bags as an alternative.
Retailers across Australia are facing higher costs for materials and transport, pressures that are flowing through to various aspects of their business. Many supermarkets argue that charging for bags not only reflects their costs but also encourages shoppers to bring reusable bags, which is better for the environment.
Rising costs at supermarkets, including bag charges, contribute to broader concerns about the cost of living for Australian households. The issue highlights the tension between environmental goals, business costs, and affordability for families doing their weekly shop.
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The case for
The increase reflects genuine cost pressures in materials and logistics that retailers face, and passing reasonable cost increases to consumers is standard business practice. Higher bag prices also align with environmental goals by encouraging greater use of reusable alternatives, which most customers can obtain; the modest price rise creates an incentive rather than an absolute barrier to shopping.
The case against
In a period of significant cost-of-living pressure, supermarkets with considerable market power have a responsibility to absorb modest costs rather than pass them to households already stretched by inflation. The 2018 transition to paid bags was presented as environmental stewardship, but this increase appears profit-driven rather than environment-driven, and effectively taxes those who forget reusable bags on a basic shopping necessity.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Coles quietly hikes paper bag prices in latest hit to shoppers already battling rising costs”.