Coles has officially been ranked number one food retailer in Australia for sustainability – and second across the globe – in the World Benchmarking Alliance's (WBA) 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark overnight.
The WBA has assessed and ranked 350 of the world's most influential food and agriculture companies and ranked them on their governance, environment, nutrition and social inclusion practices.
Coles was ranked second out of 62 peer food retailers around the world, and 12th out of the 350 benchmarked food and agriculture organisations internationally.
In the food and beverage manufacturers/processors category, Coles also ranked 10th in the world.
In its findings, the WBA stated that Coles "ranked first among its retail peers in social inclusion, while landing among the top five in nutrition, and top ten across the governance and strategy, and environment measurement areas."
The WBA also found that Coles showed leadership among all companies with consumer products in their portfolios.
Coles' Chief Sustainability, Property and Export Officer Thinus Keevé said he was delighted Coles' progress had been recognised on an international stage as we continue to work towards our ambition to be Australia's most sustainable supermarket.
"Coles' Together to Zero and Better Together ambitions, as outlined in our Sustainability Strategy, underpin the steps we are taking to drive generational sustainability," he said.
"Under Together to Zero, Coles has set bold emissions and energy targets, including to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by the end of FY25, and to deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – and we are well on the way to achieving them.
"We recognise the role we have to play but know that we cannot do this alone, and that we need to work together with our many stakeholders to drive positive change. We know that we are Better Together when we work together with our team members, farmers, suppliers, customers and the communities we serve.
"While sustainability issues are dynamic and evolving, and there is still much to do, we are committed to maintaining momentum on our sustainability journey."
News of Coles' leading position on sustainability follows the release this month of Coles' 2021 Sustainability Report, which detailed the progress Coles is making in its ambition to become Australia's most sustainable supermarket.
The Sustainability Report revealed Coles had donated $143 million in community support in the past financial year, committed to no more giveaways of plastic or recycled plastic collectible toys, and diverted 80.6 per cent of solid waste from landfill, compared with 76.7 per cent in the previous year.
