Sustainability and the future of food

Championing a better way forward

We recognise the importance of championing a better way of doing business and doing the right thing by both the people and the planet. To do this, we take a collaborative approach with our customers, members, suppliers and partners. You can find out more about our recipe for sustainability in our Future of Food ambition below.

A BETTER WAY OF DOING BUSINESS

CLIMATE COMMITMENTS

Find out how we will reduce the climate impact of our operations and products across Co-op businesses, and our Climate Plan for achieving Net Zero by 2040.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Discover what we're doing to minimise the impact we have on the environment by constantly improving the sustainability of our products and the way we work.

RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

Read about how we work hard to ensure the ingredients and products we buy help to protect people and the planet.

ETHICAL TRADING

See how we partner with suppliers so that the working conditions of the people who make our products are as good as they can be.

RESPONSIBLE RETAILING - 30 YEARS ON

In 1994, Co-op undertook first-of-its-kind research, asking tens of thousands of UK shoppers for their views on the ethics of the food industry. The message was clear: consumers couldn't count on the food industry to give them the full facts about the goods they were buying. They believed they had the right to know how products were made, what was in them, and their impact on people and the environment.

Now, 30 years on, the Co-op's Responsible Retailing Report identifies the challenges consumers face when purchasing and consuming food, their household motivations to be more sustainable, and where they want to see the food industry go next.

FOOD FIRSTS

We've always led the way on the food issues that matter the most to our customers and members such as being the first UK supermarket to sell Fairtrade products and making all our fresh and frozen meet 100% British. Download a fun list of a few things we've achieved - with plenty more to come.

FUTURE OF FOOD

We have so much to be proud of - so take a look at our Future of Food 2020 update for our highlights.

Read our Future of Food policy and Future of Food 1 year on to find out exactly what we're planning to do from now until 2030 to meet the challenges we all face.