On World Environment Day, Coles announced the allocation of $3.5 million in grants to 11 small and medium-sized businesses as part of the latest round of the Coles Nurture Fund.
Now in its eleventh year, the fund has awarded over $40 million to 119 Australian producers across a range of sectors, supporting sustainability and innovation in agriculture and food production. The latest round includes grants of up to $500,000 for projects aimed at addressing environmental challenges and improving efficiency.
One recipient, Blazing Saddles—a chilli grower based in Western Australia—received $250,000 to transition from plastic to cardboard punnets, a move expected to reduce the business's plastic waste by up to 98%. The funding will support the purchase of specialized machinery to implement the new packaging system.
Director Lance Fitzgerald described the change as a first for the herb category and noted that while the technology has been adopted in fruit and vegetable packaging, it has yet to be applied to herbs. He added that the grant would allow the business to invest in sustainable solutions that align with consumer and environmental expectations.
This round of funding concludes another phase in Coles' broader effort to foster environmental responsibility and support producers in adopting sustainable practices.
For more information:
Coles
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9829 5250
Email: [email protected]
www.colesgroup.com.au