ECO-FRIENDLY SUPERMARKET SHOPPING
THE way we shop these days isn’t just about what we buy, but the impact that product has on the environment.
Sustainability is no longer a niche issue and the Coles Supplier Awards celebrates the initiatives that farmers, producers and creative businesses have implemented to help save the planet, improve our health and support the community.
The 15 winners were whittled down from more than 330 nominations.
South Australian-based Mitolo Family Farms took out the Fresh Produce Supplier gong for reducing its plastic packaging by 60 tonnes.
“We couldn’t believe it. Potatoes aren’t the sexiest line of produce but they’re one of the biggest,” said managing director Frank Mitolo.
“We’ve got a lot more work to do but we’re working to reduce waste, reduce plastic, reduce energy and recycle more.”
The business is made up of about 20 farms which span 40,000ha across South Australia and into NSW.
“We’ve always practised sustainable farming so that we have good, long crop rotations to maintain fertility, reduce disease and maintain good crop growing,” Mr Mitolo said.
It took a few trials, but the brothers also reduced the thickness of the plastic they use to bag the potatoes, which resulted in saving 60,000 tonnes of plastic.
They also run a research and development project for seed varieties, to find those that use less water, energy and fertiliser.
“It’s been a big financial investment and it’s expensive to maintain, but I think it’s what customers want,” Mr Mitolo said. “It’s important to be relevant and make sure that we are doing everything possible from a sustainability point of view.”
The Sustainable Supplier of the Year award went to Mars Petcare, which produces pet food brands such as Whiskas and Pedigree. As well as initiatives to cut agriculture and landuse-based emissions, it supported community initiatives such as Dine Hope Reef, which is helping regenerate coral reefs in Indonesia.
“There are 19,000 … in the area and over the last two years the coral cover has increased from 10 to 60 per cent,” said marketing director Emily Dowling.
Coles CEO Steven Cain said he was proud to work with all the winners.
“We are always looking for ways to advance us in our ambition to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket,” he said.
“Our suppliers – and their creative sustainability solutions – are integral to helping us achieve this ambition.”