Coles operates more than 2,500 stores and support centres across Australia. Credit: Ryan Phillips / Flickr.

Australian supermarket chain Coles Group has enhanced its commitment to sustainability with a refreshed sustainability strategy.

As part of the strategy, the retailer plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It aims to power the entire Coles Group with fully renewable energy by 2025.

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To achieve this target, Coles has made various initiatives, including signing renewable power purchase agreements, onsite solar and agreements with renewable electricity generators.

The retailer also aims to reduce its combined Scope One and Two greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75% by 2030.

Coles Group CEO Steven Cain said: “A key part of our ambition to be Australia’s most sustainable supermarket will be reducing our environmental impact, and we have a responsibility to help create a better Australia for future generations.

“We have already reduced Scope One and Two greenhouse gas emissions by 36.5% since 2009, and with these new targets, we have an opportunity to play a leading role in driving climate action.

“Our new targets for Scope One and Two emissions commit us to an accelerated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that exceed the climate change ambitions of the Paris Agreement.”

Coles will introduce the refreshed strategy and targets at its new sustainability concept store in Moonee Ponds, Victoria.

When launched, the retailer hopes the store will set a new standard in supermarket sustainability and help the retailer create opportunities to reduce its environmental impact in the future.

Coles operates more than 2,500 stores and support centres across Australia, employing more than 118,000 people.

In 2019, the retailer shared a strategy to cut A$1bn ($774.55m) in operating costs through more effective use of technology.