Coles Source Separated Food Organics

Coles Source Separated Food Organics is a nationwide aggregated waste diversion project operated by Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd. Unlike land-based carbon projects, this initiative does not occupy a single geographical footprint but functions across Coles' extensive network of supermarkets and distribution centres throughout Australia. It was registered on May 14, 2019, and focuses on diverting organic material from the general waste stream.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Source Separated Organic Waste) Methodology Determination 2016. This methodology awards carbon credits for separating organic waste at the point of generation (supermarkets) and diverting it from landfill, where it would otherwise decompose anaerobically and generate methane. Instead, the waste is directed towards eligible treatment technologies such as open windrow composting, enclosed composting, and anaerobic digestion. The project also incorporates a "charity diversion" activity, where edible food is separated and donated to registered charities rather than being discarded.

Because this project is an aggregation of waste management activities across the entire Australian continent, it spans every climatic zone and soil type found in the country, from the tropical north to the temperate south. Therefore, specific rainfall classifications or soil descriptions (such as basalt or clay) are not applicable to the project as a singular site; the "environment" is the commercial supply chain and waste infrastructure of the retailer.

A key feature of this project is its integration with Coles' major food rescue partnerships. The "charity diversion" aspect aligns with Coles' long-standing relationships with organizations like SecondBite and Foodbank, allowing the retailer to claim carbon abatement for meals provided to vulnerable Australians that would otherwise have contributed to landfill emissions. This project supports Coles' corporate sustainability targets to divert solid waste from landfill.