Topic: Environment

Co-op is proud to sponsor 38 Co-op Academies across the North of England, supporting over 21,000 young people to learn, grow, and discover what it means to be part of a co-operative community.  Education and providing access to opportunities for young people are central to Co-op’s vision and our members continue to tell us that sustainability and the planet is an important issue for them.  This March, hundreds of students will join us at Co-op Live in…

Over the last year, thousands of Co-op Members have shared their views and ideas on how we can tackle the big issues they face – including the rising cost of living. Members asked us to help them save money and reduce their impact on the environment and told us that helping them to prevent food…

Elin Pheasant, environmental and sustainability officer at Co-op, shares her top tips for minimising food waste, plus the positive effects that even the smallest of changes can have We all know that throwing away food is wasteful. But with busy lives and changing plans, it can be hard to keep tabs on everything. Here are…

Whether it’s picnics outdoors or watching the tennis, strawberries are synonymous with summer – and they’re in season now! But what makes British strawberries taste so good? Co-op strawberry grower Harry Hall, from Hall Hunter, gives us a sneak peek into what goes on behind the scenes at his farm My mum and dad started…

Standfirst: It’s three years since we announced our partnership with Chester Zoo to support the reforestation of former palm oil plantations in Sabah, Borneo. We caught up with Alastair Pattrick, Co-op’s Sustainable Sourcing Manager, to bust a few myths around palm oil and get an update on the amazing project. Myth 1: Palm Oil is…

Summer is in full swing, and with it we’re out and about a lot more. But we can and should still be conscious of the impact we have on the world around us. To mark World  Environment Day on 5 August, Jess Collins, ethics, sustainability & policy officer at Co-op, shares her top recycling tips…

Ahead of World Earth Day, ethics, sustainability and policy officer Jess Collins shares five meaningful pledges you can make this year. Sustainability has always been more than a buzzword for Co-op – it’s a commitment. And this year is no different. For World Earth Day I want to pledge to make a difference, and you…

Horticulture buyer Francesca Hayes explains why Co-op flowers offer gifts with meaning ahead of Mother’s Day

Ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight (21 February – 6 March), Co-op Fairtrade manager Cate Hickey explains the benefits of Co-op’s longstanding partnership with Fairtrade We all associate Fairtrade with a fairer price for farmers – alongside plenty of bananas, sugar and tea, and the many other Fairtrade products you’ll find in Co-op stores. But a fairer…

COP26 did deliver some progress. Now, we need to put in the hard yards. It was a real privilege to be at COP26, speaking alongside our friends at Fairtrade about the urgent need for all businesses to play their part in delivering climate justice, to enable more people in developing countries to adopt sustainable practices.…

Peatlands are one of the UK’s key ecosystems and, if managed correctly, can support the nation’s ambition to achieve net zero. We’ve already switched to peat-free compost across all our stores but we know there is more to do. This year we’re working with climate and sustainable development expert, ClimateCare and Bell’s whisky to support the restoration…

Our new soft plastics recycling scheme has proved a huge hit since it launched in July with thousands of customers getting involved to learn, champion, and use the recycling bins in their local Co-op stores.

Are you a wish-cycler? In this helpful guide, packaging technologist Robert Thompson introduces the concept of wish-cycling – how to avoid it as well as useful tips on how to recycle properly, whether at the workplace or at home.