Coles

Coles announced its three-year partnership with Planet Ark in 2023 and has been a Major Sponsor of National Recycling week since 2022. Coles’ purpose is to sustainably help all Australians lead healthier, happier lives.

The three-year Partnership between Coles and Planet Ark will see the two organisations work together on a range of waste reduction and recycling initiatives. 

By committing to 100% renewable energy by 2025, pioneering initiatives to combat unnecessary packaging, and championing the Australasian Recycling Label, Coles has firmly established itself as a leader in driving positive environmental transformation. The new partnership with Planet Ark will help to amplify our positive environmental impact throughout Australia as well as bring about lasting positive change for Coles customers and our shared environment. 

Minimising its environmental footprint is an important part of Coles’ Sustainability Strategy. 

The strategy includes two focus areas, Together to Zero and Better Together. Together to Zero sets out ambitions across the key sustainability areas of climate change, waste and hunger. Better Together ensures the wellbeing of employees, suppliers and community and works towards positive social change. 

TOGETHER TO ZERO WASTE

Reducing food waste and packaging are important to Coles customers. By working with industry partners, suppliers and government, Coles aims to increase food security, reduce waste and overall, conserve valuable resources. 

Coles supports and is aligned to Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.

They are working towards the following with respect to all Coles Own Brand and Coles Liquor Own Brand packaging in Australia: 

• 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable 

• Include an average of 50% recycled content 

• Carry the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). (More on this below.)

• Phase out problematic, and unnecessary single-use plastic   

Coles has successfully added the Australasian Recycle Label (ARL) to all its Own Brand products as of June 2023*. The ARL provides Australians with easy-to-understand recycling information that helps to remove confusion at the recycling bin, save time for users and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

In November 2021, Coles won two Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) Awards for Packaging Strategy and leadership: 

• Large Retailer, award celebrating the top performing organisations based on core scores in APCO’s Annual Reporting Process and their performance against the Packaging Sustainability Framework criteria; and 

• Our Packaging Future Award for Packaging Sustainability Education – Industry Education

  , highlighting how Coles are working together with its suppliers on education and enablement. 

Learn more about Coles’ sustainability ambitions and initiatives.  

* To avoid waste, some items without the ARL may still appear in stores until sold