Coles has taken another step toward being Australia’s most sustainable supermarket, incorporating Fair Farms Certification into the Coles Ethical Sourcing Program and continuing its transformation strategy.
Coles customers and team members have 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.
Over the past 12 months Coles has made further progress on its commitments to increase the proportion of energy it sources from renewables and implement more sustainable processes across its stores.
On May 26, the Group announced that fresh produce suppliers to Coles can now register with Fair Farms to satisfy the requirements of the Coles Ethical Sourcing Program, which sets out detailed standards for treatment of workers in the supply chain that suppliers are required to follow and demonstrate their compliance.
Coles General Manager of Produce Craig Taylor said adopting Fair Farms Certification meant farmers now had multiple ways to become approved under the Coles Ethical Sourcing Program, which also uses the internationally recognised Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a global ethical supply chain management platform used to assess supply chain risk in over 150 countries.
“Around 95% of the fresh produce we sell comes from Australian farms, and it’s important to Coles and to our customers that the workers in our supply chain are treated fairly,” he said.
“By adopting this additional industry-based solution that can be used by all suppliers regardless of who buys their produce, Coles is making it easier for Aussie farmers to meet ethical workplace standards.”
Fair Farms Program Manager Thomas Hertel welcomed the support from Coles, which will work closely with produce suppliers who wish to transition to the Fair Farms Program and participate in its ongoing development through the Fair Farms External Stakeholder Reference Group.
“We are delighted to have Coles on board. Their commitment to collaborate with industry on matters of ethical sourcing policy is very good news for businesses in horticulture,” he said.
The announcement follows the development last year of the Coles Ethical Retail Supply Chain Accord, through which Coles is working with unions representing workers from every stage of the Australian fresh produce supply chain to promote ethical employment practices and treatment of workers.
On June 5, world environment day, Coles stated it 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.
In the past two months Coles has also opened two of its most sustainable supermarkets with Coles Local in Melbourne’s Hawthorn and Sydney’s Rose Bay.
These stores feature 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
The Group said it plans to roll these sustainability initiatives to more of its stores over the coming months.
Chief Property and Export Officer Thinus Keeve, who leads Coles’ sustainability strategy, said its 115,000 plus team members serving more than 20 million customers every week have a material impact on its ability to implement sustainable practices in the communities in which Coles’ operates.
“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,” he said.
“Whether it’s making a donation at the checkout to SecondBite or dropping off soft plastics at a Coles REDCycle bin, each one of our customers are helping achieve our mission to become the most sustainable supermarket in Australia.”