Latest news with #Co-operationBuildsThem
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Co-op to cease trade with countries identified with human rights abuses
British cooperative group Co-op has decided to terminate trade relations with nations identified with widespread human rights abuses and violations of international law. Co-op members have been consistently highlighting conflict as a major concern through feedback and resolutions in recent years. Heeding this strong message from its members, the Co-op board conducted a review on how the Co-op could contribute to peace. This resulted in the initiation of the campaign: "Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them." The review further led to the formulation of a sourcing policy that reflects traditional co-operative values, with a focus on human rights and legal compliance to foster fair trade and support peaceful initiatives. The retailer established three criteria for ceasing sourcing from certain countries: consensus among respected assessments such as those from the UN regarding persistent human rights abuses or international law violations, the potential for Co-op's actions to make a meaningful difference and reduce suffering, and ensuring such actions do not compromise Co-op's commercial success or its adherence to co-operative principles. Efforts will therefore be made to exclude ingredients in Co-op branded products or sell products from 17 identified countries of concern. The list includes specific products exclusively sourced from their origin countries, such as Russian vodka, Malian mangoes and Israeli carrots. These items will be gradually removed from Co-op stores and products from June 2025. Co-op Group board chair Debbie White stated: 'This policy, which has been developed over the past year as a part of our Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign, 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. The decision, endorsed by the Co-op Group board, aligns with the commencement of Co-ops Fortnight, to be held from 23 June to 6 July in the UK. "Co-op to cease trade with countries identified with human rights abuses" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Co-op to stop sourcing carrots from Israel to ‘support peace and co-operation'
The supermarket chain said it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are 'internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law'. The policy says that, wherever possible, the grocer will not use ingredients in Co-op branded products or sell whole products from 17 countries of concern. Products and ingredients on the prohibited list include Russian vodka, mangoes from Mali and carrots from Israel. They will be removed from Co-op shelves and products on a phased basis, starting this month. The supermarket said the policy had been approved by the Co-op Group Board and coincided with the start of Co-op Fortnight in the UK. It followed a year of 'detailed analysis' and was based on three criteria: agreement across respected assessments of behaviour which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law; that the actions Co-op could take would make a difference to those affected; and that the grocer's actions would not negatively affect its integrity as a commercially successful business aligned with co-operative values and principles. Over recent years, Co-op members had made clear through surveys, engagement and motions that conflict was one of their biggest concerns and that 'their Co-op should do all it can to advocate and build peace', it said. Debbie White, chairwoman of the Co-op Group Board, said: 'This policy – which has been developed over the past year as a part of our Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign – 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. 'As a business, we have a long-standing legacy of doing the right thing, supporting Fairtrade and championing ethical sourcing, and this policy is a natural progression of this.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Co-op to stop sourcing carrots from Israel to ‘support peace and co-operation'
The supermarket chain said it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are 'internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law'. The policy says that, wherever possible, the grocer will not use ingredients in Co-op branded products or sell whole products from 17 countries of concern. Products and ingredients on the prohibited list include Russian vodka, mangoes from Mali and carrots from Israel. They will be removed from Co-op shelves and products on a phased basis, starting this month. The supermarket said the policy had been approved by the Co-op Group Board and coincided with the start of Co-op Fortnight in the UK. It followed a year of 'detailed analysis' and was based on three criteria: agreement across respected assessments of behaviour which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law; that the actions Co-op could take would make a difference to those affected; and that the grocer's actions would not negatively affect its integrity as a commercially successful business aligned with co-operative values and principles. Over recent years, Co-op members had made clear through surveys, engagement and motions that conflict was one of their biggest concerns and that 'their Co-op should do all it can to advocate and build peace', it said. Debbie White, chairwoman of the Co-op Group Board, said: 'This policy – which has been developed over the past year as a part of our Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign – 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. 'As a business, we have a long-standing legacy of doing the right thing, supporting Fairtrade and championing ethical sourcing, and this policy is a natural progression of this.'
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Co-op stocks selling products from Israel and 16 other countries – see the full list
The supermarket chain said it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are 'internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law'. Co-op members already voted to remove Israeli products from shelves earlier this year. The policy says that, wherever possible, the grocer will not use ingredients in Co-op branded products or sell whole products from 17 countries of concern. Products and ingredients on the prohibited list include Russian vodka, mangoes from Mali and carrots from Israel. The 17 "countries of concern" identified from independent assessments are as follows: Afghanistan Belarus Central African Republic Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Haiti Iran Israel Libya Mali Myanmar Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Yemen They will be removed from Co-op shelves and products on a phased basis, starting this month. The supermarket said the policy had been approved by the Co-op Group Board and coincided with the start of Co-op Fortnight in the UK. It followed a year of 'detailed analysis' and was based on three criteria: agreement across respected assessments of behaviour which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law; that the actions Co-op could take would make a difference to those affected; and that the grocer's actions would not negatively affect its integrity as a commercially successful business aligned with co-operative values and principles. READ MORE: Scotland may be 'complicit in war crimes' allowing US to use Prestwick Over recent years, Co-op members had made clear through surveys, engagement and motions that conflict was one of their biggest concerns and that 'their Co-op should do all it can to advocate and build peace', it said. Debbie White, chairwoman of the Co-op Group Board, said: 'This policy – which has been developed over the past year as a part of our Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign – 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. 'As a business, we have a long-standing legacy of doing the right thing, supporting Fairtrade and championing ethical sourcing, and this policy is a natural progression of this.'
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Co-op to stop sourcing carrots from Israel to ‘support peace and co-operation'
The supermarket chain said it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are 'internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law'. The policy says that, wherever possible, the grocer will not use ingredients in Co-op branded products or sell whole products from 17 countries of concern. Products and ingredients on the prohibited list include Russian vodka, mangoes from Mali and carrots from Israel. They will be removed from Co-op shelves and products on a phased basis, starting this month. The supermarket said the policy had been approved by the Co-op Group Board and coincided with the start of Co-op Fortnight in the UK. It followed a year of 'detailed analysis' and was based on three criteria: agreement across respected assessments of behaviour which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law; that the actions Co-op could take would make a difference to those affected; and that the grocer's actions would not negatively affect its integrity as a commercially successful business aligned with co-operative values and principles. Over recent years, Co-op members had made clear through surveys, engagement and motions that conflict was one of their biggest concerns and that 'their Co-op should do all it can to advocate and build peace', it said. Debbie White, chairwoman of the Co-op Group Board, said: 'This policy – which has been developed over the past year as a part of our Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign – 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. 'As a business, we have a long-standing legacy of doing the right thing, supporting Fairtrade and championing ethical sourcing, and this policy is a natural progression of this.'
