Today (24 June), Co-op has announced it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law.
This policy has been approved by the Co-op Group Board and coincides with the start of Co-op Fortnight in the UK.
Over recent years, Co-op members have made clear through surveys, engagement and motions that conflict is one of their biggest concerns and that their Co-op should do all it can to advocate and build peace.
Responding to this, the Co-op board initiated a review of Co-op’s role in building peace leading to the launch of the Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign. The review also included the development of a sourcing policy aligned with established co-operative values, upholding human rights and the rule of law to promote fair trading and peace.
Following over a year of detailed analysis, Co-op will stop sourcing products and services from specific countries based on three criteria:
- That there is agreement across respected assessments, such as by the UN and others, that there is consistent behaviour which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law
- That the actions Co-op can take would make a difference directly or indirectly to those affected and would alleviate suffering
- That the actions Co-op can take would not negatively affect the Co-op’s integrity as a commercially successful co-operative business aligned with co-operative values and principles
Co-op’s policy states that, wherever possible, they will not use ingredients in Co-op branded products or sell whole products from 17 countries of concern, which have been identified by the international community.
Products and ingredients on the prohibited list are ones which are clearly and solely sourced from the country of origin and include Russian vodka, mangoes from Mali and carrots from Israel, and will be removed from Co-op shelves and products on a phased approach, starting from this month.
Debbie White, chair of the Co-op Group Board said: “This policy, developed over the past year, is a clear demonstration of our co-operative values in action, where the voices of our members have been listened to and then acted upon.
“We are committed, where we can, to removing products and ingredients from our shelves which are sourced from those countries where the international consensus demonstrates there is not alignment with what happens in those countries and our co-operative values and principles.”
No comments yet