Carbon neutral WA pork to hit Coles shelves

Western Australian agribusiness Milne Agrigroup will supply a range of pork products with a carbon neutral footprint to Coles stores after developing the offering with the major supermarket chain.

The new range announced today has a carbon neutral footprint from farm to shelf, and is available in eight cuts: rib rack, cutlets, schnitzel, diced, leg roast, porchetta, porterhouse and tomahawk steaks.

Milne has supplied Coles free-range and RSPCA approved pork products for more than a decade and worked closely with the supermarket to develop the product.

“We are grateful for the guidance and support Coles has provided over the past few years as we work to reduce emissions on our farms, which are now fully off-grid and provide 30 per cent fewer emissions than the industry average,” Milne general manager David Plant said.

Measures taken to improve the sustainability profile of the product include reducing artificial fertiliser use, investing in renewable energy and improved soil management practices.

The supermarket estimates a resultant 30 per cent reduction in farm emissions.

Coles highlighted the federal government’s Climate Active carbon neutral standard, released in October last year as a framework for managing emissions, as part of its reason for developing the product.

Australian Pork chief executive Margo Andrae said today’s news built on the steps taken by the pork industry over the past three decades to minimise its environmental footprint.

“This innovative product range by Coles not only helps pork producers innovate on farm and achieve their own sustainability ambitions, but it also delivers a product that is great tasting and can be enjoyed all year round and at every meal,” she said.

Coles became the first major Australian supermarket to stock its own brand of carbon neutral beef products last year, sourced from 17 producers across the country.

Australian Pork estimates the industry contributes 0.4 per cent to Australia’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions is considered a major priority for the sector, according to the group.