Sustainability Report 2007/08
Our approach to Sustainability
The Co-operative Group Sustainability Report 2007/08 – the second to fully combine sustainability reporting from Co-operative Financial Services and the Group’s trading businesses – provides a comprehensive look at our social, ethical and ecological impacts. Issues covered include: ethical finance, climate change, international development and human rights, animal welfare and waste and packaging.
The Report presents a balanced view of CFS’ performance. It highlights where we’re performing well, but does not evade areas where work remains to be done. In this way, the co-operative values of honesty and openness find modern expression in our approach to sustainability reporting.
Jonathan Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future and Chair of the Natural Step UK, who provides commentary on the Report, commends the Group’s account of its performance as ‘extraordinary’. He notes that: “there is a proven leadership position on many pages; the depth of understanding of all the different ‘issues’ is impressive; the combination of values-driven ‘ethical absolutes’ with a canny, value-driven business case for outperformance is communicated with great skill; and the way the data are reported, interpreted and assured leaves readers with an overwhelming ’so what’s not to trust?’ feeling in terms of overall impact”. The report has been assured against AA1000as and verified as being consistent with a GRI G3 application level of B+ by csrnetwork.
We seek to ensure that our reporting continues to be responsive to the needs of our stakeholders, and as such, your feedback is extremely valuable to us. If you would like to comment on our approach, our performance, or how the Report is presented, please contact us at: sustainability.report@co-operative.coop
If you would like a hard copy of the Report or if you require it in Braille, large print or on cassette, please contact the Customer Relations Team on:
| Freephone: | 0800 0686727 |
| Minicom: | 0800 0686717 |
| Email: | customer.relations@co-op.co.uk |
| Write to: | The Co-operative Group, Manchester M60 4ES |
