Sustainability

at Coles
Food waste and packaging
June 2018

a | Sustainability at Coles Sustainability at Coles | b

 Our commitment to a
more sustainable future
Coles has been proud to serve the Australian community
for more than 100 years. We employ over 115,000 team
members, work with more than 5,000 suppliers and serve
customers through almost 2,500 retail outlets around
our country.

At Coles, we believe we have a broader responsibility to the

communities we serve and that we can make a positive
difference through our decisions and actions.

In 2017, Coles, our customers and team members

contributed over $65 million to our community and charity
partners. We also donated 7.2 million kilograms of food to
SecondBite, which would otherwise have gone to landfill.
In 2018 we are removing single use plastic bags from all
our stores nationwide. These are significant achievements,
but we know we can do more.

Over the coming months, Coles will release a range of

initiatives and commitments to drive more sustainable
operations, to reduce our impact on the planet and to
help our customers and team members lead healthy lives.

In this document, we set out our commitments that will

underpin our focus to reduce packaging and food waste
and encourage recycling both within our operations and
for our customers.

These commitments are an important first step. We know

our journey to becoming a truly sustainable company will
take time.

Through the initiatives outlined on these pages, we believe

we will help to create a more sustainable future for Coles,
our customers and the communities we serve.

Front cover: In June 2018, we launched our new range of reusable community bags. These durable, multi-use bags have
been designed by school children from across Australia. A portion of sales of these bags will be donated to four community
organisations – Clean Up Australia, Little Athletics Australia, SecondBite and Guide Dogs Australia. Pictured with her winning bag
design is Kassidy from Ross Creek Woady Yaloak Primary School, Victoria.

c | Sustainability at Coles Sustainability at Coles | 1

Commitment 1 Case study:
Powering up
90% of all waste diverted food waste
from landfill by 2022 In 2016, we began providing
food waste from our
The main sources of waste from our supermarkets are
supermarkets in NSW to
cardboard, food and plastic. By 2022, we will divert 90%
energy generator EarthPower.
of all waste from landfill through a focus on reduction,
EarthPower, located in the
reuse and recycling.
Sydney suburb of Camellia,
Our achievements and goals processes food waste
and converts it into green
electricity and fertiliser.
Six million reusable
crates already being The EarthPower facility
uses anaerobic digestion
73% of all waste diverted used by Coles and our
technology to convert solid
from landfill in 2017. suppliers for fruit and
and liquid food waste into a
90% of all waste diverted vegetables removing
combustible gas similar to
from landfill by 2022. 32,000 tonnes of single
natural gas. The digester gas
use cardboard and
is then recovered and used
polystyrene in 2017.
as a renewable fuel source
in cogeneration engines to
produce green electricity.
This electricity is then sold
to the grid for distribution to
Majority of cardboard
domestic, commercial and
already diverted from
industrial customers.
landfill.
2 | Sustainability at Coles
Commitment 2 Case study:
Turning food
Halve food waste in Coles waste into
supermarkets by 2020 compost
We will halve food waste in our supermarkets by 2020 Food waste from around 50
by donating unsold edible food to people in need Coles supermarkets in Western
and diverting food waste to animal feed, clean energy, Australia is getting a second life
by being converted to compost.
fertiliser and compost.
Richgro’s anaerobic digestion
Our achievements and goals plant in Jandakot takes out of
date bread, bakery items, fruit
and vegetables and turns it into
compost, as well as energy.
We help transform
One exciting aspect of the
Halve food waste in organic waste into
Richgo operations is that it can
Coles supermarkets energy and compost,
accept out of date packaged
by 2020. and provide farmers
bread, meaning there is no
with animal feed.
need to separate bread from
wrapping before entering the
digester.
“We can now put bread into
the digester de-packaging
machine. The machine spins at
We donate unsold edible
a high speed, separating the
food to more than 1,300
loaf of bread from the plastic,
community organisations
so only the bread enters the
through SecondBite.
digester - a quicker and easier
process” said Tim Richards,
Richgro Operations Manager.
Commitment
Donate unsold edible
food from every Coles
supermarket in Australia
By the end of 2018, we will connect every Coles
supermarket around Australia to SecondBite so we can
provide even more unsold edible food to people in need
and reduce our edible food waste.
Our achievements and goals
In 2011, Coles began
donating unsold edible
food to SecondBite from
20 supermarkets across
Australia.
By the end of 2018,
connect all Coles
supermarkets across
Australia with SecondBite
to distribute unsold edible
food to people in need.
4 | Sustainability at Coles
3 Case study:
Coles and
SecondBite to
the rescue
In February 2018, Coles
donated an entire truck full of
fresh produce to SecondBite in
Western Australia after flooding
prevented the load being
delivered to our Broome and
Kununurra stores.
The truck was en route to
Kununurra when it was
We now donate unsold redirected as a result of the
edible food from 680 floods. It returned to a Perth
supermarkets across distribution centre where the
Australia to SecondBite, load was collected by Food
which is distributed to Rescue, a community partner
1,300 community food of SecondBite.
agencies. The donation was the
equivalent of 7,400 meals
and included 300 kilograms
of bananas, 240 punnets of
strawberries, 85 kilograms of
truss tomatoes, 80 kilograms
of nectarines and 90 iceberg
lettuces.
Commitment 4 Case study:
Coles in
Provide 100 million meals Dunsborough
to Australians in need donates 21,000
By 2020, we will have provided the equivalent of
meals to locals
100 million meals to Australians in need. in need
Our achievements and goals Through its partnership
with SecondBite, Coles
Dunsborough supermarket has
donated more than 10,400
kilograms of surplus fresh fruit
Since 2011, we have
Provide the equivalent and vegetables to St George’s
donated the equivalent
of 100 million meals to Community Care. This is the
of more than 57 million
Australians in need. equivalent of around 21,000
meals to SecondBite. meals to local people in need.
Locals turning to St George’s
Community Care for support
have benefited greatly from
Coles’ partnership with
SecondBite, according to
Barbara Nigg at the charity.
Since 2011, we have
100 million meals is the “Each week our community
donated the equivalent
equivalent of four meals kitchen provides a two-course
of more than 15 million
for every Australian. meal for around 220 people
meals to Foodbank.
and our emergency relief
team makes around 15 food
hampers for people needing a
hand affording groceries in the
area,” she said.
“We also keep frozen meals
on hand for people who call
in for emergency food relief,
which Coles Dunsborough has
contributed produce through
the SecondBite partnership.”
Commitment
Work with suppliers to
reduce food waste
We will work with our suppliers to minimise their food waste,
including developing great tasting value-added products
which will allow farmers to use more of their crop.
Our achievements and goals
Reduce food waste
throughout our supply
chain by redirecting
produce that can’t be
sold to create other
products.
Coles broccoli and
cauliflower rice,
cauliflower rice and
carrot and pumpkin
noodles use vegetables
that would otherwise go
to waste.
6 | Sustainability at Coles
5 Case study:
Map food waste in our
supply chain to identify
opportunities to reduce,
reuse or recycle.
Coles Brand banana
bread uses more than
600 tonnes of bananas
per annum, which would
otherwise have gone to
waste.
New products
that reduce food
waste and taste
great
To provide a convenient new
range for customers and help to
reduce food waste at the same
time, Queensland vegetable
grower Matt Hood from Rugby
Farms has worked with Coles
to launch three new vegetable
products this year.
In February this year, Coles
launched zucchini noodles,
sweet potato noodles and sweet
potato chips, which are grown
at farms across Queensland
and packaged by Rugby Farms.
“These new products help
increase the overall crop yield
by utilising larger vegetable
pieces that typically would not
be sold at a retail level. We are
trying to provide prepared foods
that are quick and easy to use
without any waste at home.
They are better for us and better
for consumers as well,”
Matt Hood said.
Commitment 6 Case study:
Recycled and
All Coles Brand packaging recyclable meat
recyclable by 2020 packaging
We understand the importance of appropriate By using packaging for our
packaging in maintaining food safety, supporting meat and poultry which is
product longevity and reducing food waste. At the same recyclable and also made
time we are committed to making our packaging more from recycled materials, Coles
sustainable. and Plantic are introducing a
landmark initiative.
While the majority of Coles Brand products are now
Since 2014, Coles Brand beef,
in recyclable packaging, by 2020 all Coles Brand
lamb and pork mince has
packaging will be recyclable at kerbside or in store.
been packaged in recyclable
Our achievements and goals trays that we source from
Australian supplier, Plantic.
In 2018, Plantic will supply Coles
with 121 million meat and
All Coles Brand A wide range of meat poultry trays that are recyclable
packaging (including and poultry packaging and also made from recycled
grocery, meat and will be 100% recyclable material.
fresh produce) will be and made from recycled
recyclable by 2020. material.
Since 2014, Coles has
used Plantic™, the
world’s first ultra-high
barrier renewable and
recyclable material, to
package Coles Brand
fresh beef, pork and
lamb mince.
Commitment 7 Case study:
Bottled water,
Commitment 8 Case study:
Coles suppliers
More recycled content in a first for Coles Reduce excess packaging adopt sustainable
Coles Brand packaging Coles Brand water is the only across our stores and change
We will use more recycled content in Coles Brand
private label bottled drink in
Australia to be packaged in a
supply chain Vegetable growers such as
packaging. John Said from Fresh Select in
bottle made from 100% recycled We will reduce excess packaging for fruit and vegetables Victoria have led the way to
Our achievements and goals material that is also recyclable. across our stores and supply chain. replace single use polystyrene
In September 2014, with our boxes with returnable plastic
partners, we developed an Our achievements and goals crates to reduce waste in the
innovative lightweight bottle Coles supply chain.
made from recycled plastic.
Introduce new fresh John is among 250 Coles’
Increase recycled We have introduced a
produce bags made The bottles are made in suppliers who now use reusable
content in Coles new program to reduce
from 30% recycled Australia from old bottles which
In June 2018, introduce a crates to transport their
Brand packaging. plastic wrapping of
content in 2018. have been ground down, new range of reusable products.
cleaned and reformed. When fruit and vegetables,
Coles community bags By purchasing one million more
finished they can be recycled in including removing
designed by Australian reusable crates in 2018-19, we
kerbside recycling programs. plastic packaging from
children. will be able to work with more
all Coles Brand bananas
in 2018. suppliers to replace single use
cardboard, waxed cardboard
Since 2014, our Coles and polystyrene boxes.
Brand water has been In 2018, Coles introduced
The extra one million reusable
packaged in bottles new heavy duty reusable
crates add to the six million
made of 100% recycled carry bags made with We have phased reusable plastic crates already
content, which are also 80% recycled content. All single use plastic
out non-recyclable used by Coles and our suppliers
recyclable. shopping bags across
polystyrene trays for for fruit, vegetables, poultry and
all Coles stores will be
fruit and vegetables in red meat.
removed by 1 July 2018.
our stores.

8 | Sustainability at Coles
Commitment 9 Case study:
Paving the way
Commitment 10 Case study:
New labelling to
Provide in-store soft plastic with plastic Introduce new labelling clarify recycling
recycling options in every recycling to promote recycling Coles is an active member

Coles supermarket In an Australian-first trial, We will make it easier for customers to determine how
of the Australian Packaging
Covenant Organisation
plastic bags and soft plastic and where they should recycle through new recycling
This year Coles was the first major food retailer in (APCO) and has been
packaging collected at Coles’ labels on Coles Brand products.
Australia to have in-store REDcycle bins at every involved in consultation on
REDcycle bins has been used
the development of the
supermarket, including regional and remote areas. to construct a Victorian road. Our achievements and goals Australasian Recycling Label.
Our achievements and goals Downer and Hume City Council
recently announced they
The ARL will use a consistent
packaging assessment tool
had partnered with REDcycle
to determine the appropriate
and Close the Loop to build
Introduce new, easy to Include the recycling recycling labelling to
a road in Craigieburn from
Coles has purchased be applied to different
recycled soft plastics, glass, read recycling labels on label on more Coles
more than 500 benches components of packaging.
REDcycle bins in every printer cartridges and recycled Coles Brand products. Brand products.
made from recycled soft
Coles supermarket. asphalt. Coles customers will have
plastic since 2011 for
confidence that by following
stores and local schools. The trial provides another use for
the instructions their packaging
soft plastic collected from Coles
material will be directed to the
supermarkets across Australia.
• Our customers tell us that the current recycling labels correct recycling stream.
For the past seven years, soft
plastic from Coles stores has on products are often confusing. This new labelling will begin
been converted to outdoor • Coles will apply new labels to our Coles Brand being rolled out in 2018.
furniture by Melbourne recycling products to provide customers with clear instructions
Since 2011, Coles has
Coles was the first major manufacturer, Replas. on what packaging can be recycled and whether
diverted more than
supermarket in Australia it can be recycled in kerbside recycling, through
425 million pieces of
to introduce a soft plastic REDcycle or by other means.
recycling program.
soft plastic from landfill Box Wrap
across Australia. • Coles will be implementing the Australasian
Recycling Label (ARL) developed by the Australian
Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO),
PlanetArk and PREP Design.

Store Drop Off

10 | Sustainability at Coles
Sustainability at Coles Commitments for the future

Key achievements 90% of all waste Halve food waste in

diverted from Coles supermarkets
landfill by 2022 by 2020
First major Australian
72 million meals donated
supermarket to provide
to SecondBite and
soft plastic recycling in
Foodbank since 2011
every store

Donate unsold edible Provide 100 million

food from every meals to Australians
Coles supermarket in need by 2020

Six million reusable

Coles Brand water bottles
fresh produce crates in
recyclable and made
circulation, replacing
from 100% recycled
32,000 tonnes of single
material since 2014
use boxes in 2017 All Coles Brand
Work with suppliers to
packaging recyclable
reduce food waste
by 2020

In June 2018, we will introduce a new range of reusable Coles

community bags. Designed by the children of Australia, a portion of
sales of these bags will be donated to four community organisations
Reduce excess
– Clean Up Australia, Little Athletics Australia, SecondBite and Guide More recycled
packaging across
Dogs Australia content in Coles
our stores and
Brand packaging
supply chain

No single use plastic $50m Coles Nurture Fund Provide in-store soft
bags across Coles by supported 27 producers Introduce new
plastic recycling
1 July 2018 since 2015 labelling to promote
options in every
recycling
Coles supermarket

12 | Sustainability at Coles