Together to zero waste

Environment Policy

We recognise the role we can play in reducing food waste and packaging, reflecting customers’ needs while making our operations more sustainable and efficient. By working with industry partners, suppliers and customers we aim to increase food security, reduce waste and overall, conserve our valuable resources.

Coles is committed to doing business in an environmentally responsible manner as detailed in our Environment PolicyOpens in new window.

Sustainable packaging

We understand our customers want us to reduce unnecessary packaging and make it easier for them to recycle.

We also know that packaging, including plastic packaging, plays a key role in protecting products during transport, extending product life, keeping food safe and reducing food waste.

Supporting industryCollapsed
Coles Own Brand R³ Packaging FrameworkCollapsed
Soft Plastics Taskforce: Roadmap to RestartCollapsed
In-store plastic and cardboardCollapsed
Transport packagingCollapsed

Minimise 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. We will continue to work with our team members on education and awareness, as well as maximising food waste diversion opportunities in stores to bring in services like packaged organics and expansion of the bread return program with Goodman Fielder.

As a food retailer, we love food and do not want it to go to waste. Every Coles supermarket and distribution centre is connected with a food waste solution, something we first achieved at the end of FY19. Our first choice for unsold, edible food is to donate it to food rescue organisations. Following that, we have other food waste solutions including donation to farmers and animal or wildlife services, organics collections and in-store food waste disposal equipment.

We partner with food rescue organisation SecondBite which collects unsold, edible food either directly from our supermarkets or organises for local charities to collect it on its behalf. In addition to collecting and redistributing food from our stores, SecondBite also collects food from our fresh and chilled distribution centres.

We also partner with Foodbank which collects from our grocery distribution centres across Australia.

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, in other products such as Coles Own Brand zucchini noodles, sweet potato noodles, sweet potato chips, and broccoli and cauliflower rice, as well as the Coles Own Brand range of banana-based products.

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.