A coalition of leading consumer electronics and home appliances retailers and brands has formed to drive greater support and participation in sustainable solutions across the industry supply chain.
The Coalition for Sustainable Solutions (CoFoSS) includes some of Australia and New Zealand’s prominent retailers and brands, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of consumer electronics (CE) and home appliances (HA) products and packaging.
Initiated by the National Associated Retail Traders Association (NARTA) in 2023, CoFoSS comprises founding member companies such as Bing Lee, Bosch, Electrolux, Fisher and Paykel, JB Hi-Fi, Miele, Panasonic, Winning Group, Retravision, Samsung, The Good Guys, and NARTA.
NARTA CEO Michael Jackson expressed pride in the coalition’s efforts, stating: “We are proud to be able to maximise our scale and reach as a Retail Service Group in the critical area of sustainability, a priority that is so important to corporations and individuals.”
Kurt Hegvold, Managing Director of Electrolux ANZ and Inaugural Chair of CoFoSS, emphasised the potential for the coalition to drive significant change.
“The opportunity to do more to tackle the environmental impact of CE and HA products and packaging is bigger than any one business can achieve alone. CoFoSS has the potential to make real and lasting changes,” said Hegvold.
CoFoSS has begun discussions with various government and industry stakeholders, with a focus on informing and influencing policy decisions.
Hegvold highlighted the positive early discussions with the government and emphasised the coalition’s commitment to working collaboratively with industry bodies like the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), and the Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association (CESA).
APCO CEO Chris Foley stated: “It is encouraging to see the CE and HA industry working together, and our early discussions with CoFoSS have been constructive.”
Immediate priorities for CoFoSS include addressing the impact of expanded polystyrene (EPS) used in product packaging and managing e-waste from small appliances.
The coalition aims to develop industry-wide standards for responsible recycling of materials across the value chain.
CoFoSS member representative John Winning, CEO of Winning Group, highlighted the coalition’s commitment to convenient recycling solutions, stating: “CoFoSS intends to work on a bigger scale and bring the industry together to achieve convenient solutions for consumers, cost-efficiencies for brands and retailers, and sustainable progress.”
CoFoSS aims to attract new member companies from across the CE and HA value chain to drive further sustainability initiatives across the industry.
