Coles hits target to source 100% renewable electricity for its operations
26 August 2025
Coles has achieved its target of sourcing 100% renewable electricity1 for its national operations—which includes more than 1,800 of its retail outlets and distribution centres.
This milestone, as outlined in the Group’s FY25 Sustainability Report released today, contributes to an 81.3% reduction in combined Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in FY25 (from FY20 baseline) and sees Coles achieve its target to reduce combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by more than 75% by the end of FY30—five years early2.
Achieved through an ongoing commitment to the installation of on-site solar, renewable electricity contracts with companies such as Origin Energy and CleanCo, large-scale generation certificate (LCG) arrangements and energy efficiency measures such as refrigeration upgrades, this achievement marks a significant milestone in the retailer’s renewable electricity performance.
Coles now has 139 sites fitted with solar panels bringing its total generation of renewable electricity to 33,803 MWh in this last financial year.
Coles Chief Commercial & Sustainability Officer, Anna Croft said achieving its target of sourcing 100% renewable electricity was a significant milestone for the business that is committed to supporting Australia’s transition to renewable electricity.
“We recognise our responsibility, as one of Australia’s largest energy users, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our operations. Achieving our target of sourcing 100% renewable electricity shows important progress towards decarbonising our operations, as we work towards delivering our climate ambitions.
“Beyond our own operations, we understand that meaningful engagement and collaboration with suppliers is also important in achieving our sustainability targets. More than 40% of our suppliers have now set Scope 1 and 2 science-based emissions reduction targets3 and we will continue to partner with them in support of industry-wide efforts to reduce emissions.”
Continuing to progress in its other sustainability efforts from the last financial year, Coles has also:
- Donated the equivalent of 39.1 million meals to SecondBite and Foodbank4
- Maintained over 42% of women in leadership roles females, against a target of 40%5
- Introduced its first electric prime mover into its grocery delivery network in partnership with Linfox, saving approximately 25,000 litres of fuel every year6
- Awarded $3.5 million in grants to Aussie producers to help them drive sustainability and innovation as part of the Coles Nurture Fund, which to date has provided more than $40 million to 119 small-and-medium-sized businesses since 2015
- Diverted 88% of its total solid waste from landfill, achieving the target set in FY21 to increase the total amount of solid waste diverted from landfill to 85% by FY257
- Removed more than 600 million pieces of conventional plastic from Coles Own Brand packaging portfolio since 2021
- Increased the percentage of packaging across Coles Own Brand and Coles Liquor Own Brand that is recyclable to 87.6%8
The report also details the Group’s refreshed sustainability strategy and suite of targets and commitments for FY26-30, across its strategic focus of climate, nature and circularity.
Over the next five years, Coles will focus on continuing to decarbonise its operations, as well as working together with suppliers to help reduce their emissions and collaborating with producers to drive a more climate and nature resilient supply chain.
Read the full report
hereSustainability Report, View PDF, file size maximum 20MB usually between 7-12MBOpens in new window.
For media enquiries, please contact
Coles Media Line (03) 9829 5250 or media.relations@coles.com.au or
media.relations@coles.com.au
1 Renewable electricity percentage includes voluntary large-scale generation certificate (LGC) surrendered by us, renewable power percentage (RPP), jurisdictional renewable power percentage (JRPP) and onsite solar within Coles’ operational control. The JRPP is only applicable in the Australian Capital Territory, where the electricity supply is legislated to be 100% renewable. For all other Australian jurisdictions, the RPP is used to represent the renewable content of grid electricity unless specific renewable procurement (e.g. LGC surrender) is demonstrated. FY25 electricity consumption includes one month of estimated data (based on meter data or weighted averages of actuals) and 11 months of actual data.
2 FY25 Scope 1 emissions and Scope 2 emissions include one month of estimated data (based on meter data or weighted averages of actuals) and 11 months of actual data and is calculated on a Scope 2 market-based methodology using LGCs. Coles has not relied on the use of carbon offsets for the achievement of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction.
3 Targets are considered science-based if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, based on Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guidance. Coles uses the SBTi guidance on what constitutes a science-based emissions reduction target. This guidance defines the key criteria which includes, but is not limited to: (a) target boundary (coverage of scopes, emission types and subsidiaries); (b) target coverage (≥95% of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, ≥67% near-term Scope 3 and ≥90% long-term Scope 3); (c) target type (absolute, intensity, or engagement), (d) base year (≥2015); (e) target year (near-term maximum 10 years and long-term maximum 2050); (f) target reduction/ambition (Scope 1 and 2 1.5o, Scope 3 near-term well below 2o and long-term 1.5o).
4 In addition to unsold edible food, the figure also includes bulk food and grocery donations to SecondBite and Foodbank.
5 Leadership positions comprises the Executive Leadership Team, general managers, team members pay grade eight and above and supermarket store managers. Pay grade eight and above includes middle managers and specialist roles.
6 Calculated based on an estimated electric prime mover travel distance of 90,000km per year.
7 Excludes liquid waste except high-strength sludges (which contain a high proportion of solids) and liquids diverted for use as food (such as donations to SecondBite and farmers).
8 Based on packaging data overlaid with unit sales over a 52-week period until June 2025
