Sourcing that is better together

While palm oil is used in many products around the world, unsustainable farming practices in some countries where oil palms are grown can negatively impact the environment, wildlife and local communities. Coles is a member of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and has embraced its Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production. As a member of the RSPO, our intention is to use only sustainable palm oil in Coles Brand products.

When developing new Coles Brand products, we aim to use sustainable palm oil wherever possible. This approach encourages palm oil producers to move to sustainable practices, while supporting the livelihoods of those communities dependent on the palm oil industry. Where palm oil is present in our food and drink products, we will label it accordingly. Our Palm Oil Policy requires us to identify palm oil specifically instead of using the common term ‘blended vegetable oils’.

Coles utilises independent certification programs when sourcing tea, coffee and cocoa to provide confidence that these commodities have been sourced ethically and sustainably, and also help to grow the market for independently certified products such as Fairtrade and UTZ/ Rainforest Alliance.

The following Own Brand products are already from certified sources:

• 100% Coles Own Brand solid block chocolate
• 100% Coles Own Brand Easter Eggs for 2019
• Coles Own Brand Cocoa Powder.

Coles is committed to using certified coffee in all Coles Own Brand coffee products by 2020, and to continually increase our use of certified cocoa when used as an ingredient in our Own Brand products.

Coles Sustainable Timber and Paper Products Policy sets out our expectations regarding the use and supply of timber and timber pulp-based paper products for Coles Own Brand products. Customer receipts at all Coles supermarkets, Coles Express and liquor outlets are certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Standard. Since FY21 we have committed to using only timber or paper sourced from sustainable forestry operations independently certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), FSC or recycled fibre.

MSC is a certification program for wild-caught seafood.

Farmed seafood (aquaculture) allows us to provide year-round high-quality Coles Brand seafood which compliments wild-caught seafood availability.

The Coles Responsibly Sourced Seafood Program for farmed (aquaculture) seafood requires suppliers to be either certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council , GLOBALG.A.P. or Best Aquaculture Practice, or to have undertaken an independent assessment against an approved methodology.

Coles’ program for wild caught seafood was developed with support from MRAG Asia Pacific (an independent sustainable seafood specialist). The program builds on the results of supply risk assessments for Coles Brand and deli seafood products carried out by WWF-Australia over the period 2011-15. Since then Coles has relied on independent auditors to assess its seafood suppliers against the following criteria:

• Target fish stocks: The health and robustness of the target fish population and the measures in place to ensure they remain healthy in the future;
• Ecosystem impacts: The impact of the fishing method on other species and the surrounding ecosystem; and
• Fishery Management: The effectiveness of the fishery management system in promoting healthy fish stocks and ecosystems.

Our Coles Brand canned Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna are responsibly sourced which means the following conditions are met:

• Fish stocks: The fish stock where Coles Brand Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna are caught have been independently assessed as part of our Coles Responsibly Sourced Seafood Program.
• Reduced by-catch: Coles Brand Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna are caught without the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), which are essentially rafts that attract fish. This results in less by-catch.
• Traceability: Coles Brand Skipjack and Yellowfin canned tuna can be traced back to the approved fishing boat that caught the tuna as well as the boat that transported it to the cannery.
• Independent observers: Boats that catch Coles Brand Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna have independent observers on board to ensure robust data is available to help manage the fishery and monitor compliance with conservation measures specified by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Please note, in response to the impacts from COVID-19, the WCPFC has temporarily suspended the requirement for observer coverage on purse-seine vessels until further notice.