Co-Op Future of Food 2020 Update

The Future of Food
2020 Update
We’re all well versed in the unprecedented We now need to recognise the
change we’ve encountered over the last responsibility we all have to protect
six months and in our world of ethics and people and the planet – whether you’re a
sustainability, the crisis has raised its own customer, member, supplier or partner, we
set of challenges. look forward to working together to create
a more sustainable future for all. The
We’ve had to pause some things and face Future of Food is in our hands and it’s only
into new priorities. First and foremost, together that we can make a difference.
we’ve focused on the humanitarian and
economic crisis impacting communities in Cathryn Higgs, Head of Food Policy
the UK and on a global scale.
But that doesn’t mean our previous

challenges disappeared. One remaining
constant has been our commitment to
The Future of Food – Co-op’s recipe for
sustainability to 2030.
Below we share a handful of our highlights

this year, but of course that’s not all we’ve
achieved, and our plans are underpinned
by strong foundations. To learn more on
how we are progressing with our targets,
read Co-op’s 2019 Sustainability report.
1 Chapter 1: Sourcing & Creating with Care
Our products will be created with respect Action on plastic
for people and the planet. 3 As part of our journey to 100% recyclability, we
launched a 50-store trial of our film recycling scheme,
Protecting our most important ingredients
with a view to provide a collection point in every
3 This year we published our 30 Key Ingredients which community in 2021.
are central to how we source responsibly and how we
3 We recognise the need to continue to lightweight
protect them.
all packaging and since 2018 we have reduced the
3 Our next priority is sharing our action plans amount of plastic in our own brand packaging by
underneath those ingredients, including how we 1313 tonnes per annum.
will achieve our ambitious goals on sustainable soy
3 As part of our commitment to use more recycled
and segregated palm oil, and take further action on
material, we moved our own brand 500ml, 750ml, 1l
deforestation.
and 2l PET bottles for still and sparkling waters, soft
drinks and mixers to 100% recycled plastic content.
3 For our 2020 Christmas range, we removed all the

plastic toys from our Christmas crackers and made our
entire gifting range completely recyclable.
Climate change commitments
3 We reported our complete end-to-end carbon

footprint, set Science Based Targets to reduce
our overall product emissions by 11% and those
associated with our operations by 50% by 2025, and
last year we reduced our product related emissions by
2.5% and our operational emissions by 39%.
3 We signed up to the UN Global Compact ‘We mean

business’ coalition which commits us to net zero by
2050 at the very latest.
3 We are now progressing how we make our tangible

reductions, fast, and exploring how we bring our
members and customers on the journey to tackle the
climate crisis.
2 Chapter 2: Treating People Fairly

Everyone that produces our food will get a Emergency support for communities and workers
impacted by COVID-19
fair deal.
3 Through our Global Wellbeing Charter we reallocated
Our commitment to Fairtrade
£950K of funds to support producer communities
3 We celebrated 25 years of championing Fairtrade in tackling the pandemic through access to medical
with our members, customers and producers. We care, food parcels, PPE and the provision of clean safe
shared stories, empowered communities to celebrate water to support better hygiene and sanitation with
Fairtrade and made it easier for customers to choose our partners The One Foundation.
Fairtrade when in store.
3 We worked collaboratively with other retailers and
3 Our commitment to Fairtrade remains stronger than partners on common guidance, training and initiatives
ever and we are looking forward to sharing more to help keep vulnerable workers and farmers in our
plans on our ambitions very soon. supply chains here and overseas safe.
3 Chapter 3: Learning & Celebrating Together
We’ll work together with our members to
make a difference
Access to healthy, nutritious food for all
3 During the height of the crisis, we prioritised getting

food to vulnerable people in communities across the
UK - donating £1.5m in Co-op stock to Fareshare and
raising donations to support over 5m meals, alongside
£1.3m raised for the National Emergencies Trust to
support local food groups with sustainable solutions.
3 We mobilised our Member Pioneer network and

our Members to connect local charities with their
communities, stores and volunteers – helping 11,000
vulnerable customers through our Community
Shopping Scheme and through 7,700 hours of
support from Co-op Member Pioneers.
3 Our work to support young people included

providing £2.6m in food vouchers for free school
meals for over 6,000 Co-op Academy students
and joining the ‘Child Food Poverty Taskforce’
spearheaded by Marcus Rashford.
3 We know the issue of access to food will continue as

repercussions of the pandemic are felt. Our priority
now is establishing how Co-op can provide access
to healthy, nutritious food for everyone - including
our commitment to boost the Healthy Start national
scheme with more fruit and veg, and how we can best
tackle food insecurity at a time when communities
need more support than ever before.

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The Future of Food

But that doesn’t mean our previous

Below we share a handful of our highlights

3 For our 2020 Christmas range, we removed all the

Climate change commitments

3 We reported our complete end-to-end carbon

3 We signed up to the UN Global Compact ‘We mean

3 We are now progressing how we make our tangible

2 Chapter 2: Treating People Fairly

3 During the height of the crisis, we prioritised getting

3 We mobilised our Member Pioneer network and

3 Our work to support young people included

3 We know the issue of access to food will continue as

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