Coles Sustainability Strategies and Implementation

This analysis focuses on the sustainability strategies and implementation of Coles Group Limited, an Australian based organization in the retail industry.

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COLES SUSTAINABLITY STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATION
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Today, sustainability is not only becoming important across all companies but also a crucial
business practice with missions of creating long term values with regards to social, economic as
well as ecological environment (Bhakar et al., 2016). Notably, sustainable companies’ objectives
reduce environmental footprint since they come up with initiatives that reduce waste, unethical
environmental practices as well as inappropriate environmental stewardship which offer reduced
levels of sustainability within the practices of the company (Wesfarmers, 2019). Therefore, it is
worth noting that every company has its own initiative of promoting as well as practicing
sustainability. This analysis focuses on suitability of Coles Group Limited- an Australian based
organization which operates in retail industry predominantly as well as its implementation
strategies (Coles, 2019).
To begin with, Coles’ focus is reducing greenhouse gas emissions while reducing costs at the
same time. Notably, the company is investing about 24.5 million in efficient energy projects with
the aim of minimizing their negative environmental impacts. In the initiative which began in the
year 2012, the company’s first proper implementation through their decision to replace lights
with LED with the aim of completing it by this year (2019). On the other hand, the second
action that is related to energy efficiency projects is installing solar panels. Although this
strategy is still in process and the company is planning for development in the future, they have
about 26 stores that they have successfully installed solar (Coles 2019).
It is worth noting that, due to the energy efficiency projects, Coles has decreased their electricity
consumptions by one per cent, even though they raised number of supermarkets by eight as well
as convenience stores by 25. Besides, Coles’ numbers of stores are growing but their greenhouse
gas emissions are decreasing over the past. It is worth noting that due to the energy efficiency
projects, Coles Group Limited has succeeded in reducing carbon emission from refringent by

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following refrigeration pipe replacement program as well as investing in leak-detection
technology. Eventually Coles reduced 30 percent gas emissions in 2016 hitting their 2020 target
few years earlier.
Although, the Coles as a company is doing pretty well with regards to sustainability, there are
other implementations that could be helpful to assist the company to be more sustainable.It is
worth noting that,the larger company with several retail outlets, the higher the impact on the
environment. Importantly, a large company that is aware of their risks on the environment
thereby encouraging their customers to be responsible as well as participate on saving the
environment would make the environment to become safer. For example, Coles operates about
200 stores in Australia and millions of customers bus their daily goods from their large outlets.
Therefore, the company is responsible for any impact on the environment which applies since it
is their responsibility to ensure their products have reduced negative environmental impacts even
at their customers’ end.
Furthermore, Coles can borrow some of sustainability strategies from their competitors like
Woolworth. Besides, Woolworth is one of the largest companies in Australia. One of the
Woolworth smart implementation is creating recycling label assist customers to recycle in a
proper manner (Woolworths, 2019). As some customers are confused thereby needing
information on how to recycle, the label explains the all process. It would be useful action for
Coles, because it doesn’t cost much and it will encourage customers to recycle.Another
implementation is providing green bonds. The bonds aim to improve companies that have
projects focusing on environmental outcome. The bond is given under one condition which
support Woolworth environmental commitment then they benefit from the bonds for their private
projects (Woolworths, 2019). For example, businesses that receive the green bonds could help

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Woolworth installations of solar panel or LED lights at the same time benefit from the bond for
their other project.
Moreover, for Coles to become more sustainable, it needs other strategies like mitigation and
innovation. Firstly, climate change Mitigation is an implementation that focuses first on reasons
why these changes happened then apply slow changes on the company resources process and
condition. The main goal of mitigation is to have positive environmental outcomes in the long-
term. Examples of mitigation that Coles could use are basically reducing gas emissions and use
renewable energy such as solar power. Secondly, innovation strategy is useful has it is basednot
only on improving the business economically but also environmentally. Innovation is essential
for businesses since its aims to reduce cost and waste thereby keeping a company sustainable at
the same time. For instance, using eco-friendly machines is not only sustainable but also reduces
operational costs.

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Bibliography
Coles (2019). Environment. [online] Coles.com.au. Available at:
https://www.coles.com.au/corporate-responsibility/sustainability/environment [Accessed 3 May
2019].
Bhakar, S.S., Kaurav, R.P.S., Parashar, M.P. and Sankpal, S., 2016. Sustainable Competitive
Advantage through Integrated Marketing Approach.
Wesfarmers (2019). Shadow carbon price. [online] Sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au. Available
at: https://sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au/our-principles/environment/climate-change-
resilience/shadow-carbon-price/ [Accessed 3 May 2019].
Woolworths (2019). Woolworths pleased to see food waste reduction is now a national priority.
[online] Crs.woolworthsgroup.com.au. Available at:
http://crs.woolworthsgroup.com.au/page/news/planet/woolworths-pleased-to-see-food-waste-
reduction-is-now-a-national-priority/ [Accessed 3 May 2019].