Co-op announces changes to its sourcing policy to support peace, human rights and fair trading

Co-op Group has announced that it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law.

The policy has been approved by the Co-op Group board and coincides with the start of Co-ops Fortnight in the UK.

The cooperative said that over recent years, its members have made clear through surveys, engagement and motions that conflict is one of their biggest concerns and that the group ”should do all it can to advocate and build peace”.

Responding to this, the Co-op board initiated a review of its 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, it said.

Following over a year of detailed analysis, Co-op will stop sourcing products and services from specific countries based on three criteria.

Firstly, 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; secondly, that the actions Co-op can take would make a difference directly or indirectly to those affected and would alleviate suffering; and thirdly, that the actions Co-op can take would not negatively affect its integrity as a commercially successful co-operative business aligned with co-operative values and principles.

Group 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.

Those countries, identified by independent assessments, are Afghanistan, Belarus, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Iran, Israel, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Co-op explained that products and ingredients on the prohibited list are ones which are clearly and solely sourced from the country of origin and include mangoes from Mali and carrots from Israel. 

These products will be removed from Co-op shelves and products on a phased approach, starting from June 2025.

The group confirmed that affected suppliers have been contacted and it will manage the end of contracts in line with GSCOP regulations and guidelines.

“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,” said Debbie White, chair of the Co-op Group board.

“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,” White added.

“Our ’Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them’ campaign has once again positioned our Co-op with those who advocate for and build peace.”