Countdown has released its Sustainability Wrap for 2022. The report outlines Countdown’s progress against its sustainability commitments for the year ended 30 June 2022.
Over the 12-month period, Countdown achieved a number of key outcomes which continue to support its journey towards its 2025 sustainability goals and commitments including donating $7.4 million of food and funds to those in need, removing 58.3 tonnes of saturated fat, sugar, and salt from Own Brand products, and diverting 73% of waste from landfill, amongst other things.
Countdown’s Managing Director, Spencer Sonn, is humbled by the sustainability achievements of the business in the past year, given the challenging operating environment. He attributes the results to the resilience and determination of Countdown’s team who have continued to deliver on their purpose of making Kiwis’ lives a little better every day for a better tomorrow.
“2022 proved to be another year of continued disruption from Covid-19 and the other challenges facing supermarkets in Aotearoa. I am incredibly proud of our achievements which come from the collective commitment of our 22,000 strong team, our local communities, and our supply partners,” says Sonn.
Sonn says that Countdown’s sustainability focus doesn’t just encompass the environment, it also involves creating a workplace that is truly inclusive and promotes team wellbeing.
“To be a truly sustainable business, we need a thriving team. We are committed to delivering policies and driving practices that make Countdown an inclusive, safe, and welcoming place to work. We’ve trained 5,502 team members in our ‘I am Here’ programme to support mental health and positive wellbeing in the workplace,” says Sonn.
Further key highlights from the 2022 Wrap include:
- Opening three new Green Star sites (two distribution centres and one store);
- 533 Own Brand suppliers assessed through its Responsible Sourcing programme;
- Nine Kiwi schools given Growing for Good grants;
- A 63% reduction in emissions (since FY15), by retrofitting and upgrading refrigeration systems across Countdown’s store network.
To view the full Sustainability Wrap, please click here.
