Sustainable Procurement: Coles Supermarkets Question and Answer 2022

Running head: SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT: COLES SUPERMARKETS
Sustainable Procurement: Coles Supermarkets
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SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT: COLES SUPERMARKETS1
1. Describe the retail trade market in Australia. You should consider private and business
customers, and how they purchase now and how it may change in future. Support your
answer using publicly available data/statistics. Ensure your answer include recent
actions that have taken place by various stakeholders as set out in the current news and
explain how this could influence buyer actions in future.
Ans. Regardless of the nature of competitiveness of the retail industry, it can be said that the
scope of operations of the retail industry varies (Gaur & Kesavan, 2015). The aspects associated
with the operations of the companies in the retail sector varies depending on the attitudes of the
consumer community. Furthermore, it depends on the nature of the industries that are present.
The Australian retail industry is the assimilation of businesses such as e-retailers, departmental
stores, super markets, general stores, malls and others (Price, 2016). In Australia, some of the
most popular retail supermarkets are Woolworths, Coles and Costoco (Mortimer, 2013). The
latter have been able to gain the majority of the market share in the industry. Furthermore, they
have been able to gain effectiveness in catering to operations while catering to the needs of
environment sustainability.
With the increase in the adverse environmental effects as a result of the malpractices
carried out by organisations in their operational practices. It has been found that most of the
waste that are generated by the companies in the retail industry are not disposed in landfills
where they accumulate. Furthermore, the accumulation of the waste consists of wastes that are
also non-biodegradable and sometimes even toxic in nature. The leads to the degradation of the
quality of life of whatever biotic component comes in touch with the same. Furthermore, the
methods of waste disposal are limited to incineration which further results in degradation of the
quality of air by releasing harmful substances into the same. As a result of the sad activities and

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT: COLES SUPERMARKETS2
the implications of the activities, regulations have been passed by the government that cater to
the needs of conservation of the environment. Companies regardless of their mode of operations
have to comply with the laws and regulations that have been established in order to carry out
operations as usual in the industry that they are a part of (Berliner & Prakash, 2015). The
companies operating in the retail sectors have to comply with the same. Apart from the
opportunity to gain effectiveness in operations, the companies in the retail industry can gain
competitive advantage against each other apart from being able to contribute to the sustainable
needs of the environment.
It has been also witnessed that the consumer community has gained awareness regarding
the needs for conservation of the environment. Carrying out activities such as protection of the
environment through small contributions such as eliminating the use of plastic can help the
consumer by gaining utility from conserved efforts through the protection of the environment.
Thus, the companies operating in the said industry have to ensure that they comply with the
standards established by the regulatory bodies, not only to be able to sustain their operations, but
also to contribute to the sustainability of the environment.
2. Outline possible sustainable procurement practices for Coles. You should consider its
approach to capital, maintenance and operating activities. You should also consider
project versus operating activities.
Ans. Sustainable procurement refers to carrying out activities such as establishment of the
facility, operations in terms of goods and service exchange and general modes of operations that
are associated with the operations of a said company in a particular industry (Large, Kramer &
Hartmann, 2013). From the case study it has been found that the Coles aims to contribute to the
sustainability of the environment through an array of activities that help in terms of development