It's official. 

The Co-Op have released a statement with a startling and well received claim following a Food Ethical Policy consultation, from which Ethical Trading was identified as the number one priority by 27% of members.

They say:-

In response, from February 2008 The Co-operative will become the first UK retailer to convert its entire own-brand hot beverage range (worth over £16m) to Fairtrade.

What absolutely fantastic and ground-breakingly optimistic news!

The Co-Op Policy makes for interesting reading too and as they strive to be the UK's leading ethical supermarket, I am sure their latest move will notch up lots of proudly earned greenie points.

Our policy

We are committed to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and improve conditions in our supply chains. In line with this, we will look to be the UK’s leading retailer, and will:

• continue to promote Fairtrade and develop long term, sustainable relationships and offer the widest range  and availability of Fairtrade products;

• continue to apply our Sound Sourcing Code of Conduct across our suppliers, and in particular, secure progress in developing countries in relation to living wages, trades union recognition (where lawful), the end of child labour, and reasonable working hours and overtime.

   

  How very 'Co-Op'.

  TS x

   PS: Find out more about the Co-Op here.