Since its commitment to put generational sustainability at the centre of its transformation strategy launched in June last year, Coles says it has become the country’s most sustainable supermarket.
The company said: “To date, Coles customers and team members have helped donate the equivalent of 142 million meals to disadvantaged Australians via SecondBite and Foodbank, recycled 997 million pieces of soft plastic through REDCycle and donated grocery essentials to the retail value of $7.9 million to vulnerable Australians during COVID-19.”
Chief property and export officer Thinus Keeve, who leads Coles’ sustainability strategy, said in the last 12 months the company has also made progress on its commitments to increase the proportion of energy sourced from renewables and implement more sustainable processes across its stores.
“By using energy more efficiently and investing in renewable energy projects, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35 per cent since 2009, including a six per cent reduction in the 2019 financial year alone,” Keeve said.
Coles has installed solar panels on 38 supermarkets since June 2019, increasing the total number of on-site solar electricity generation facilities to 68, while construction has also commenced on three new solar power plants based in regional New South Wales, from which Coles will purchase the equivalent of 10 per cent of its national electricity consumption.
Its latest supermarket variety – the Coles Local – also has a sustainability focus. Opened in Melbourne’s Hawthorn and Sydney’s Rose Bay, the stores team member uniforms made from 65 per cent recycled bottles, trolleys made partly from recycled plastic and free reclaimed customer carry boxes as an alternative to bags. Coles plans to roll these sustainability initiatives to more of its stores over the coming months.
