Coates’ FY25 sustainability highlights

Following the release of SGH’s 2025 Annual Report, we explore Coates’ progress across climate resilience, circular economy, people and local operations

At Coates, we recognise that through our work, we have the opportunity to positively impact our people, the communities we operate in, the natural and built environments, and the industries we serve. Following the publication of SGH’s 2025 Annual Report, we reflect on the progress Coates made in FY25 across the four key elements of SGH’s sustainability framework – climate resilience, circular economy, people and local operations – as we continue working towards long-term, meaningful impact.

Climate resilience: reducing emissions and supporting the transition

In FY25, we achieved a 10% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This was driven by targeted efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption across our fleet and lower our reliance on grid electricity.

A key milestone was a 16% year-on-year reduction in grid electricity consumption, thanks to our rooftop solar rollout, which is now installed at over 25% of our 145 branches. This initiative delivered around 1.1 GW in energy savings and cut approximately 740 tonnes of Scope 2 emissions annually.

We also made significant progress in reducing emissions from our light vehicle fleet. By rationalising fleet size by 20% and replacing older vehicles with fuel-efficient hybrids and battery electric models, we cut liquid fuel use by 10%, resulting in a further 1,000 tonnes of emissions reduction.

Beyond our own footprint, we’re helping customers to reduce theirs. In FY25, we provided 9,600 days of hybrid power to off-grid and remote projects, and supported customers to reduce their emissions and energy costs through access to low and zero-emissions hire equipment.

Solar panels at Coates' Dandenong branch.

Circular economy: extending lifecycles and reducing waste

Our rental model is inherently circular. By maximising equipment utilisation and extending product lifecycles, we help reduce waste and optimise resource use across Australia.

In FY25, Coates contributed to the circular economy by:

• Providing $1.9 billion in available assets for hire and re-use in the Australian economy

• Completing over 500,000 maintenance events annually to preserve and reuse this asset base

• Recovering more than 1,000 tonnes of metals for recycling.

We also recycled 3,779 plastic barriers – equivalent to 189 tonnes – and ensured all new barriers included 10% recycled content derived from old Coates barriers. Since launching this program in 2022, we’ve recycled over 11,000 end-of-life barriers.

Coates has recycled non-compliant and end-of-life Armorzone plastic barriers since 2022.

People: inclusion, opportunity and safety

At Coates, we’re proud to foster a collaborative and respectful environment, where diversity and inclusion are celebrated – and in FY25, this commitment delivered strong results. Female workforce participation reached 24.7%, with significant growth in leadership roles, and Indigenous workforce participation reached 4.5%. Our LEAP (Leadership, Excellence and Performance) program graduated 25 women, with a 30% promotion success rate, demonstrating clear career progression pathways.

Just as we champion inclusion and opportunity, we’re equally committed to a proactive safety culture that empowers our people to live by our value of 'care deeply'. In FY25, we recorded a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of 0.4 and a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 2.6 – reductions of 60% and 37% respectively. Falls, trips and slips were down 27% year-on-year, thanks to initiatives like our Risk Awareness Focus and Critical Risk controls for Working at Heights.

In FY25 female workforce participation reached 24.7%.

Local operations: supporting communities through the Coates Foundation

From volunteering to procurement, we’re focused on creating lasting impact in the communities where we live and work. Through the Coates Foundation, our team dedicated over 2,000 volunteering hours to supporting our charity partners in FY25, and actively supported initiatives such as the Mission Australia Christmas Appeal and the Cancer Council Relay for Life.

Coates has continued our strong partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, with employees contributing more than 1,500 volunteer hours through our Clontarf Champion network. We also demonstrated our commitment to philanthropy by providing event hire equipment to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and donating funds for paediatric medical equipment nationwide, as well as fundraising for events such as the Channel 7 Perth Telethon and the MACA Cancer 200 Ride.

Our team dedicated over 2,000 volunteering hours to supporting our charity partners in FY25.

As we reflect on FY25, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we know there’s more to do. Sustainability is a journey, and we’re committed to leading the way with practical equipment solutions and a genuine commitment to our people, our customers and our communities.

For more information, explore the SGH Annual Report 2025