Our awards
European Business Award
The Co-operative won a prestigious 2008 European Business Award for the Environment.
The awards recognise "the Best of the Best" businesses that have won awards at national level. Out of 125 companies that applied for the awards, the jury had selected 11 finalists with the Group being the only one from UK.
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony during the annual Green Week conference in Brussels on Tuesday 3 June.
Given in four categories, the European Business Awards for the Environment recognise businesses that make a particular contribution to sustainable development by combining innovation, economic viability and environmental concern.
The Group won the Management Award for strategic vision and management systems which enable companies continuously to improve their contribution to sustainable development.
The judges said: "The Co-operative Group won the prize for its approach to sustainable development. Its Social Goals Strategy identifies the environment as a primary issue. The group identifies and measures key environmental, social and ethical impacts annually."
Patrick Allen, Director of Marketing said: "When it comes to climate change we are consistently recognised as a UK leader but it is particularly satisfying to be acknowledged as the best in Europe."
"For several years The Co-operative Group has been working to significantly reduce its own carbon impact and we have campaigned heavily on the important issue of climate change".
"We purchase virtually all of our electricity from renewable sources, we operate a wind farm on our land in Cambridgeshire and we are committed to reducing our electricity and gas consumption by 25 per cent by 2012."
Click here for more information on The Co-operative Group.
Company of the Year Award
Double honour for Co-operative business practices
The Co-operative Financial Services has been awarded the highly prestigious Business in the Community (BitC) 'Company of the Year' award.
And the double honour was completed when the Co-operative Group overall was named as winner of the BitC Climate Change award.
The Awards for Excellence were presented at a special gala dinner on 7 July, at the Royal Albert Hall.
We have been seen as a leader in the area of responsible business. Our commitment to leading the way on ethical, environmental and community issues, through our Sustainable Development Policy, delivers significant value in a socially responsible and ecologically sustainable manner.
'(Photo L-R) Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, Marks and Spencer; David Anderson, Chief Executive of The Co-operative Financial Services; Lionel Barber, Editor, Financial Times; Dick Parkhouse, Managing Director, Retail and Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community.'
We have pioneered renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions alongside innovative consumer offsetting schemes to become one of the world's leading businesses tackling climate change.
As one of the largest purchasers of green electricity in Europe, 99% of the The Co-operative's electricity supply comes from renewable sources.
David Anderson, Chief Executive of The Co-operative Financial Services, said. "To be named BitC '2008 Company of the Year' is a massive achievement. It demonstrates the lengths we go to in terms of managing our social, ethical and environmental footprint. This lies firmly at the heart of our business and our customer-led ethical policies will ensure that we remain firmly in touch with their needs and priorities."
Peter Marks, Chief Executive, The Co-operative, said: "We are tremendously proud of our climate change activities. This award demonstrates that our colleagues in the business community also recognise the impact our business practices have on the environment and in the communities in which we operate."
