Our approach is focused on minimising the amount of waste associated with our operations, reducing food waste – from the farm through to our customers’ homes – and implementing product stewardship initiatives that support and drive circularity.
We recognise we need to collaborate across our value chain to change the way resources and materials are used, helping to maximise reusability and end of life product options, in addition to reducing and repurposing food waste.
We have a target for the entire Coles Group to divert 85% of solid waste from landfill by the end of FY25, while continuing our focus on reducing food waste.
Coles is committed to doing business in an environmentally responsible manner as detailed in our
Environment PolicyView PDF, file size 190KB, Opens in new windowOpens in new window.
Product stewardship
Coles supports the shift towards a circular economy by providing opportunities for customers to recycle their products after use, including batteries and drink containers.
Supporting product stewardship initiatives helps to reduce the end-of-life impacts of products sold in our stores and provides a pathway for materials to be recycled and recirculated back into the economy for further use.
Reducing food waste
As a food retailer, we love food and do not want it to go to waste.
Coles supports Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to halve food waste by 2030. We also have a comprehensive food waste reduction strategy aligned with our overarching sustainability ambitions.
Since 2019, every Coles supermarket and distribution centre has at least one food waste diversion solution available, ranging from donating to food rescue organisations such as SecondBite and Foodbank, or to farmers and animal or wildlife services, food waste recycling collections, and in-store food waste processors.
We have partnered with SecondBite since 2011 and Foodbank since 2003 to rescue unsold, edible food that would otherwise have gone to waste. To date, we have donated the equivalent of 257.8 million meals to SecondBite and 44.9 million meals to Foodbank.
We work with our Australian suppliers to reduce food waste and increase overall crop yields by using produce, which typically would not be sold in stores.
Our range of ‘I’m Perfect’ fruit and vegetables celebrates produce that tastes great but may be flawed in appearance. The products are not only excellent value but also help to reduce food waste.
