Coles Response to Online Petition to Boycott Little Shop 2

Thousands of people have signed a petition, calling for the boycott of Coles, Little Shop 2.

Launching today the new collectibles were deemed to be a “family favourite”, but many Australians have expressed their concern at the non-recyclable toys.

“Are you gobsmacked that Coles has brought out a new range of ‘little shop’ toys during Plastic-free July?”, the Change.org petition creator Sara Coates said.

“Wow.. Coles.. just wow.. You have just proved you really do not care for our children’s future by bringing these so called “collectables” back.

coles petition

“This is when most people are doing their best to bring their own bags, choosing less packaging on their food and saying no to straws. Here you are handing out plastic junk that will end in landfill or in our oceans.

“Sure, I get you want higher profits but couldn’t you have come up with something that isn’t plastic? If you really wanted to give our Children something to collect why couldn’t it be environmentally thoughtful?”

The petition has so far gathered more than 30,000 signatures, with petitioners slamming the toys as “junk”.

“Our kids would rather have a future planet free of plastic than a toy,” one petitioner wrote.

“Why reduce plastic bag waste just to replace it with plastic junk toys that will eventually end up in landfill. It totally defies logic,” another said.

Coles response

“Rather than throwing them out, our customer research shows that of the customers who collected minis last year, 94 per cent have either kept them or given them to family or friends who were collecting,” a Coles spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.

“The campaign only runs for a limited time and customers who choose to collect them are able to recycle the wrappers at their nearest Coles through our in-store RedCycle program.

“For Coles online deliveries, mini collectible packaging can be returned to the driver, and recycled through the RedCycle program.”

While the support is growing it doesn’t seemed to have dampened the interest of those families keen to collect with reports of total chaos in stores from the early hours this morning.

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19 Comments

- - DaffyD said
  - 19 Jul 2019
    8:35 am
I support this as it truly a waste

- - Blossom said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    7:18 pm
Other shops have promotions from time to time. Coles seem to gain more publicity. Do we really know what they are made from? How many people are aware that Dog Registration Tags are made from recycled plastics?

- - mom81879 said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    11:35 am
Doesn’t look like the petition has had much effect. From news reports, Coles were slammed in the first day of these appearing. I do agree it’s bad timing, being plastic free month, and it would be good if they could be environmentally friendly. I always grab them when on offer. Have to say, I much preferred the plastic container offer they had on not long ago. Great reusable, vacuum sealing containers. I use them all the time!

- - nadine_hill said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    9:06 am
I won’t be collecting them but, it’s a free country, collect or don’t collect … I do think they should be made from recycled materials though ….

- - Ellen said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    7:33 am
We have the choice to either refuse or to collect them, that choice should be free.

- - mom385887 said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    6:40 am
I dont collect them think they are contradictory to the whole ‘save the planet with reusable bags’ message, but i’m not about to sign a petition to ruin everone elses fun.
If coles want to please everyone, make them out of recyclable materials.

- - mom265671 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    11:19 pm
Just don’t take them if you choose not to, don’t ruin for everyone else

- - rachelvk said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    10:03 pm
I hate these little things. We still have them all over our house from last and now we will no doubt end up with more… urgh.

- - youngoldlady said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    9:58 pm
Not collecting them but will get ant for my grand daughter if I do shop there. I am collecting Woolies ones as one of my children loves Lion King.

- - mom206279 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    6:47 pm
I’m olanning on avoiding them just cos my house has more than enough crap in it already.

- - mom90758 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    5:21 pm
A ban to boycott Coles seems a little bit harsh to me.

- - mom376182 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    4:58 pm
My niece loves these. She collected them all during the first ‘Little Shop’ and still plays with them. If your child isn’t going to play with them and you are concerned with the waste then don’t get them during checkout.

- - ashna9 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    4:16 pm
Are these people boycotting Woolworths too with their plastic Ooshies?

- - Myrlie said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    3:07 pm
Not collecting per se’ but I will be getting some for my kids to play with. The only ones that made it to the bin were the soft foam filled ones that my daughter ripped open & promptly destroyed.

- - mom152736 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    2:31 pm
Well, i’ve actually seen kids play with them. i dont really collect them but give it to my friends who do.
- mom93821 replied
  
  18 Jul 2019 , 5:39 am
  I have seen repurposed jewellery and other products too made with the minis – people using the minis to create jewellery and fridge magnets.
- - mom93821 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    1:41 pm
I am surprised about a petition – but we do live in a democracy and people can rally for or against causes.

- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    1:23 pm
I honestly don’t collect them anymore it’s very simple
- Kel from MoM CookClub replied
  
  17 Jul 2019 , 3:03 pm
  Exactly, just decline them!