ethical policy
our policy
We are committed to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and improve conditions in our supply chains.
In line with this, we will look to be the UK’s leading retailer, and will:
- continue to promote Fairtrade and develop long term, sustainable relationships and offer the widest range and availability of Fairtrade products
- continue to apply our Sound Sourcing Code of Conduct across our suppliers, and in particular, secure progress in developing countries in relation to living wages, trades union recognition (where lawful), the end of child labour, and reasonable working hours and overtime.
The Co-operative has been the UK’s biggest supermarket supporter of Fairtrade since 1992, and has achieved a number of Fairtrade firsts:
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in 2002 we converted our entire block chocolate range to Fairtrade;
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in 2007 we sold the first supermarket Fairtrade bag;
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and by 2007 we had Fairtrade bananas in every store.
The Co-operative sells Fairtrade products in more outlets than any other retailer (over 2,200), and provides over 180 grocery product lines – the widest range of Fairtrade products of any retailer.
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, The Fairtrade Foundation said:
"This latest move to switch all their own-brand tea to Fairtrade hits the spot – meeting their customers’ demand both for a great cup of tea and one that supports producers in developing countries who wish to build a better life.”
In our Food Ethical Policy consultation, Ethical Trading was identified as the number one priority by 27% of members. In response, from February 2008 The Co-operative became the first UK retailer to convert its entire own-brand hot beverage range (worth over £16m) to Fairtrade.
It was also an industry first when we converted our own-brand coffee range to Fairtrade back in 2003, and we’ve now switched all Co-operative tea, including the iconic 99 Tea, to Fairtrade along with our hot chocolate range.
The move benefits producers in some of the world’s poorest countries in East Africa and India. As well as receiving a guaranteed price for their crop, they get a Fairtrade premium to invest in community projects of their choice, such as water supply, educational equipment and medical facilities.
Download The Co-operative Food Ethical Policy - PDF [111kb]
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