Tackling global poverty

When undertaken equitably, trade has an unparalleled capacity to lift people out of poverty and enhance the quality of lives across the world. However, business pressures and the demand for cheap goods can mean that workers in the developing world are often denied the basic living standards that most of us in the UK take for granted. We recognise that our activities have an impact on international development, and we believe that we can make this impact a positive one.

Microfinance

We believe that people should be given the opportunity to trade their way out of poverty. So, The Co-operative Bank has created a US$50m microfinance fund which provides loans to small businesses in poor countries around the world.

Watch our film about the benefits of microfinance.

Fairtrade

The Co-operative Group has been the UK's leading supermarket supporter of fair and ethical trade for over 160 years and has demonstrated commitment to the FAIRTRADE Mark since its inception back in 1994. Read about more of our Fairtrade achievements here.

Our Fairtrade Strategic Development Manager travelled to Colombia in 2008 to find out how Fairtrade is making a real difference to the lives of coffee growers. Read more about his travels through the Colombia blog.

Ethical water

 In 2007, we became the first retailer to launch an own-brand ethical water.
Watch a film about our ethical water. 

Tackling global poverty is just one of our three projects that come under our Community Plan. The other projects are Combating climate change and Inspiring young people, and there is a wealth of information here.