Environment
COOPEAGROPAL
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 15, 2007 - 2:59pm. COOPEAGROPAL | Food and Agriculture | Costa Rica | Environment | Community | Developing 300 | Principles/CSRDeveloping 300 ranking:
25
Number of members:
534Number of employees:
465Turnover:
USD $: 30,039,000Type of Co-operative:
Agricultural Co-operativeDate founded:
1986Operating Countries:
Costa Rica
Website:
Environment
The co-operative’s development policies are promoted under a real commitment to the environment and a good management of natural resources. Efforts in this
respect include:
- Implementation of an energy plant to produce the power required for the agricultural and industrial processes and the administration of the co-operative.
- Proper handling of industrial waste, by using it as raw material.
Community
COOPEAGROPAL RL has helped to make drinking water, housing, health programs and fairs available for the community, including a clinic that offers medical services to its members. It has worked with the Ministry of Education and the national universities to improve the population’s level of education.
At the same time, with its own resources, the co-operative is in charge of the
maintenance of 300 km of roads, more than 250 canals and 65 concrete bridges.
The region of Coto Sur has experienced an improvement in employment, income, and the quality of life of the families in the community. Many of those who were simply workers in the banana plantations have become the owners of oil palm farms.
80% of Coto Sur’s employment is directly or indirectly generated by the co-operative.
COOPEAGROPAL also operates a store where members can source the products and services needed to develop the palm industry.
Members have access to financial assistance via the co-operative.
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 15, 2007 - 2:32pm. Mountain Equipment Co-op | Retailing | Canada | Products | Environment | Principles/CSRMEC is Canada’s largest supplier of quality outdoor equipment. It has 11 stores across Canada, as well as a comprehensive web store and phone/mail order service.
Global 300 ranking:
532Number of members:
2,300,000Member Dividend:
USD $1,722,727Number of employees:
1,120Gender Diversity:
46% of employees are femaleTurnover:
USD $: 168,679,960Type of Co-operative:
Consumer Co-operativeDate founded:
1971Operating Countries:
Canada, and internationally via mail order.
Website:
Products
MEC product sourcing:
- MEC is one of the top 25 global purchasers of organic cotton.
- 100% of cotton in MEC brand clothes is organic.
- Recycled polyester at 4% in MEC brand items.
- MEC actively monitors its manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with their standards for health and safety of workers, as well as addressing issues such as forced labour, child labour and freedom of association. This applies all the way down the supply chain.
Product Recycling:
Environment
Product policy
MEC’s Board-level Product Selection Policy ensures MEC will not design or buy
products specifically for:
- Motorised activities.
- Activities that have an unacceptable impact on the environment.
- Activities intended to kill or harm animals.
Reducing environmental impact
- PVC and other environmentally harmful substances are being removed from all MEC’s products to reduce their environmental impact.
- Target to further reduce Greenhouse gas emissions from facilities (down 52% from 2003).
- Target to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions from logistics by 5% in 2006.
- Target to donate 1% of sales to environmental causes in 2007.
MEC was ranked top retailer in the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business’ annual
Corporate Social Responsibility Ranking.
MEC was ranked top retailer (4th overall) in the Ethical Trading Action Group’s
Transparency Report Card
Folksam
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 15, 2007 - 2:14pm. Folksam | Insurance | Sweden | People | Principles | Environment | Principles/CSRFolksam is a Swedish mutual insurance company that insures one in two people in Sweden.
Global 300 ranking:
65Number of members:
4,000,000Number of employees:
3,563Gender Diversity:
49% of employees are femaleTurnover:
USD $: 1,127,079,611Type of Co-operative:
MutualDate founded:
1908Operating Countries:
Sweden
Website:
People
Diversity and Equal Opportunities: Folksam’s managers attend a series of seminars on measures against discrimination at work on the grounds of ethnicity, religion or other factors. The ‘Wheel of Diversity’ project creates a climate for spreading knowledge and experience of ways to leverage diversity as a growth engine for companies in the Stockholm region. 87% of employees agreed with the statement, “In my team/department men and women are treated with equality.”
Training and Development: Mentoring programme initiated with Scribona (the Nordic region’s leading distributor of IT and communication products). This programme provides help and support with employees’ career planning with a view to increasing internal mobility.
Communications: Publication ‘Folksam Vision’ describes the organisation's role as a Mutual, its aims and visions and how to achieve them.
Additional Employee Health Services: Managerial staff are encouraged to take parental leave, during which employees are paid 90% of their normal salary. In 2005 the whole of Folksam was again awarded a health diploma by the Swedish Federation for Company Sport. Some workers have been trained as health ambassadors to support and motivate their colleagues to take part in wellness programmes.
Absenteeism Reduction Methods: Procedures and signalling systems for early identification of workers at risk of chronic illness.
Other statistics:
- Top Twenty in Sweden’s Best Workplaces
- Employee Turnover: 2.6%
- Gender Diversity: 49%
- Percent Female in Management: 42%.
Principles
Values: Security, commitment, compassion and professionalism.
Vision: “We work for a long-term sustainable society in which the individual feels secure.”
Socially Responsible Investing: Folksam’s decisions on the companies it invests in are based on ethical investment criteria. They employ positive, supportive investment criteria relating to human rights and the environment and Folksam will not invest in companies providing tobacco products.
Environment
Green electricity: 3 years ago, Folksam began using ‘green’ electricity (BRA MILJÖVAL-EL) in its properties, at a stroke reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 220 tonnes to 15 tonnes a year.
Standards: Part of Folksam’s operations (in motor vehicle and building claims, and traffic and safety research) are environmentally certified to ISO 14002.
Research: The Folksam Climate Index, now in its 9th year, measures the CO2 emissions of 270 enterprises and their actions to reduce emissions.
Reuse: Folksam saved SEK 50m by reusing original parts and repairing plastic parts and car windows. The total saved by these practices has been SEK 250m over the last 5 years.
Campina
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 15, 2007 - 1:58pm. Campina | Food and Agriculture | Netherlands | Principles | Environment | Principles/CSRCampina is one of Europe’s largest dairy co-operatives with the number one or two position in branded products in its chosen markets.
Global 300 ranking:
46Number of members:
8,357Number of employees:
6,811Turnover:
USD $: 2,147,483,647Type of Co-operative:
Co-operativeDate founded:
1979Operating Countries:
Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and other international locations.
Website:
Principles
Reliable: “We take our role in the dairy chain seriously. By being honest and fair, acting with respect and always remaining aware that dairy is part of people’s daily lives.”
Enterprising: “We conduct ourselves like entrepreneurs who are not afraid to show initiative, to take decisions and to commit ourselves to achieving results.”
Corporate Social Responsibility: Campina has targeted three priorities in CSR:
- Clean Water – both on the farm and from the farm.
- Chain transparency – from the farmer to the consumer.
- Care for People – employees, members and communities.
In order to focus its activities it has created the following CSR structure:
- CSR Steering Group: This steering group has a multidisciplinary membership, consisting of representatives at senior management level.
- CSR Officer: Campina has appointed a CSR Officer at senior management level. He acts as a driver of CSR in the business and is also Campina’s first point of contact on sustainable entrepreneurship.
- CSR Project Teams: Depending on the issue in question, multi-disciplinary project teams address issues that call for operational action (e.g. outdoor grazing or compliance/business principles).
Environment
Energy: Campina’s EEI (Energy Efficiency Index) in the Netherlands in 2005 was 93.6 (reference year 1998=100). It has been monitoring energy use since 1989.
Waste: A total of 41,148 tonnes of packaging were sold during 2005, compared with 42,502 tonnes in 2004. This is mainly attributable to the changes in the product package during 2005.
Water: 11.22 million m3 were used in 2005.
- In Heiloo (the Netherlands), Campina reduced water consumption by optimising the cleaning process for its filling machines. Employees were able to reduce the cleaning time by around 30%, yielding an annual water savings of some 800 m3.
- In Veghel (also in the Netherlands), Campina reduced its water consumption by approximately 100,000 m3 a year, equivalent to the annual consumption of over 550 four-person Dutch households.
- Water Framework Directive: Campina works with the Dutch government in seeking to implement the Water Framework Directive. It belongs to:
- The Nutrients Working Group which sets guidelines for nitrogen and phosphate levels;
- The Meuse Basin Advisory Group;
- The WS Aa and Meuse, Dommel and Brabant Delta advisory groups;
- The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) working group on the consequences for industry.
- Spending: €2.47 million spent on Environmental Protection in 2005.
Fonterra
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 15, 2007 - 1:25pm. Fonterra | Food and Agriculture | New Zealand | Environment | Principles/CSRFonterra is one of the top 10 dairy businesses in the world and is responsible for a third of international dairy trade. It owns 60 manufacturing plants including 35 in New Zealand. It has products in 140 countries.
Global 300 ranking:
24Number of members:
11,680Number of employees:
17,400Turnover:
USD $: 2,147,483,647Type of Co-operative:
Member Co-operativeDate founded:
2001Operating Countries:
New Zealand, Australia, Asia Pacific, North and South America.
Website:
Environment
Reducing environmental impact
Fonterra is involved in a number of environmental initiatives, including the Dairy Industry Strategy for Sustainable Environmental Management, Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord, and the International Standard on Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001).
- 75% of farmers have removed cattle from streams, rivers and lakes versus a 2007 target of 50%; 93% of race crossing points have bridges or culverts against a 2007 target of 50%.
- Over the 2005/6 season, Fonterra made an 82% contribution to New Zealand businesses’ total reported national energy savings.
- In 2005 Fonterra signed a 20-year agreement with Toll NZ to make rail the primary mode of transporting dairy products from the Waikato region. It is estimated that the agreement will cut approximately 45,000 truck movements from Waikato roads and the main highways between the Waikato, Auckland and Tauranga. This equates to a saving of approximately 3000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
- Comprehensive Group Environmental Policy (v2.0) published January 2006, covered reduction in pollution, elimination of waste and recycling targets as well as stakeholder and community education and awareness programmes.
- The majority of Fonterra sites are accredited with the ISO 14001 standard.
2006 Awards
- Ecolab Eco-efficiency Award (New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Inc), awarded to Clandeboye site for eco-efficiency.
- Target Zero Special Award for Business Resource Use Efficiency (Environment Canterbury, Landcare Research, Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority and Christchurch City Council), awarded to Clandeboye site for eco-efficiency.
- Commercial/industrial Environmental Award (Environment Canterbury), awarded to Clandeboye site for eco-efficiency programme and wastewater irrigation (category joint winner).
- Taranaki Regional Council Industry Environmental Enhancement Project Award, awarded to Whareroa site for work on the Nowells Lake wetlands.
- Sustainable Business Network award for innovation (both local and national levels), awarded to our Tirau site for anoxic tank modification for nitrate compliance.
Banque Populaire Group
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 15, 2007 - 1:12pm. Groupe Banques Populaires | Banking and Finance | France | Products | Environment | Community | Principles/CSR | DevelopmentWith over 7,000,000 customers and 2850 branches, the bank has one of the largest retail networks in France. They have 45,000 employees in France and abroad.
Global 300 ranking:
21Number of members:
3,000,000Number of employees:
45,530Turnover:
USD $: 2,147,483,647Type of Co-operative:
Co-operatively owned GroupDate founded:
1917Operating Countries:
France and 67 other countries.
Website:
Products
Banque Populaire Group is the no.1 provider for business start-ups and buyout loans in France. In partnership with Sociétés des Cautions Mutuelle Artisanals (SOCAMA) and with support from the European Investment Fund, Banque Popular Group has developed innovative products such as ‘Prêt Express Socama’, loans without personal guarantees for clients’ equipment purchase, and ‘Prêt Socama
Transmission-Reprise’ for buy-in/buy-out financing.
Eleven of the group’s solidarity based saving products are Finansol labelled. The French Finansol Label is a guarantee of transparency, ethics and social conscience. The Group is also a leading player in solidarity based financing and no. 1 in microloan financing (source ADIE).
Environment
The Banque Populaire group has introduced a savings scheme ‘CODEVair’. This scheme pays a slightly reduced interest rate the savings collected are assigned to the project ‘PREVair’ that funds environmentally friendly property projects.
The Banque Populaire Foundation funds projects addressing the preservation and renovation of the national maritime and aquatic environment.
Community
Healthcare: During 2005 the group’s Natexis Banque began to support efforts to combat malaria, something of a forgotten disease in the developed world but which kills over two million people every year. To this end, it began by pledging its support to the Franco-African day of action against malaria, which was organized by the ‘Plan France’ NGO. In addition, two projects to combat malaria led by other NGOs received the support of Natexis Banque.
Culture: The Banque Populaire Foundation’s activities are focused in three areas:
- Culture - by supporting young musicians in the early stage of their career;
- Social Action - by helping young disabled people to pursue a life-changing project or to join the business world;
- Maritime preservation - see Environment, above.
Almost 300 prizes and bursaries have been awarded since the Foundation was set-up in 1992.
Development
Crédit Maritime d’outre mer and BRED Banque Populaire set up a ‘Sofipêche’ unit on Réunion Island, in conjunction with Coopération Maritime. This product, which was called ‘SOFIRUN 2005’ and has €4.9 million in capital, aims to widen ownership of new fishing vessels by young fishermen setting up a business for the first time.
The Co-operative Group
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 14, 2007 - 9:58am. The Co-operative Group | Banking and Finance | Food and Agriculture | Insurance | Retailing | UK | Principles | Environment | Democracy | Principles/CSROne of the world's largest consumer co-operative and the UK's largest commercial farming operation. It has over 3000 outlets – comprising food stores, travel, funeralcare, pharmacy, insurance and banking.
Global 300 ranking:
8Number of members:
1,500,000Member Dividend:
USD $9,800,000Number of employees:
67,882Gender Diversity:
53% of employees are femaleTurnover:
USD $: 2,147,483,647Type of Co-operative:
Consumer Co-operativeDate founded:
1863Operating Countries:
United Kingdom
Website:
Principles
The Co-operative Group is Britain’s most trusted brand
Research commissioned by the National Consumer Council and AccountAbility (a charity committed to improving businesses’ social and ethical performance) found that
The Co-operative Group was the most trusted business in the UK, with key differentiation in the areas of honesty, the environment and the treatment of employees.
The Group have been committed to responsible retailing since 1863
The Co-operative Group has been trading since 1863, when the Co operative Wholesale Society (formerly North of England Co-op Wholesale Industrial and Provident Society)
was first established. The business was an essential part of the movement which gave people the chance to join together to buy good quality produce at a fair price.
Environment
Winner of the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development 2006-7
- 98% of The Co-operative Group’s electricity is sourced from renewable resources.
- Virtually all of their electricity is sourced from wind and water power.
- They are one of the largest purchasers of wind and water power in the world.
- They were the first retailer in the UK to power all of their outlets on wind and water power.
Wind turbines
Installed on top of the Co-operative Financial Services tower in Manchester, they provide 4% of the electricity needs of the CFS building. As the UK’s largest farmer, the Co-operative Group has installed wind turbines on its farmland supplying enough electricity for 9,000 UK homes each year.
The CIS tower
Europe’s largest vertical solar array created at cost of £5.5million. 7,244 solar photovoltaic panels, designed to convert daylight into electricity, will create 180,000 units of renewable electricity each year.
The Co-operative Recycling Centre, Manchester
The largest in-house recycling centre in the North West of England, there is capacity for over 10,000 tonnes of waste per annum. All of head office paper is turned into own-brand toilet paper sold in the Food Retail outlets. An electric-powered lorry travels between the various Group premises picking up the waste material.
Democracy
The Co-operative Group is wholly owned by 2.5 million members in 2007. Democracy is fundamental to the organisation’s success. The Co-operative Group supports
communities and offers members the opportunity to make a difference locally through The Community Fund, social initiatives, voting rights and volunteering. Members receive a
share of the profits and tell The Group what is important to them. This is done democratically through their network of member representatives.
Area Committees: members represent local committees and discuss issues on how the business can be improved and help the local community.
Regional Boards: The Regional Boards bring together representatives of the area committees. Each Regional Board helps to manage The Group’s business in their region.
National Boards: Regional representatives sit on the National Board. Collectively the National Board is responsible for determining the vision and strategy of the organisation as a whole.
National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF)
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 13, 2007 - 10:19am. National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) | Banking and Finance | South Korea | Environment | Community | Principles/CSROver 4,000 branches around the country provide efficient financial services. Over the last four decades, the NACF has supported farmers, rural communities and agriculture in areas such as marketing and supply, banking, and in education.
Global 300 ranking:
5Number of members:
2,411,272Member Dividend:
USD $70,340,129Number of employees:
15,622Gender Diversity:
27% of employees are femaleTurnover:
USD $: 2,147,483,647Type of Co-operative:
Consortium and FederationDate founded:
1961Operating Countries:
South Korea and internationally by export.
Website:
Environment
Reducing environmental impact
NACF assists with environment-friendly farming, by supporting co-operative farm groups for environment-friendly agricultural production by developing farming technology, and by providing education and public relations services for farmers and consumers.
Fostering co-operative farm groups and pilot research projects
NACF is supporting environment-friendly agriculture by assisting with computerized management of co-operative farm groups, providing loans, and farm technology education. In co-operation with the Rural Development Administration (RDA), the NACF operates pilot projects for organic livestock production systems, environment-friendly agricultural materials, and circulation farming at the local level.
Educating both producers and consumers
NACF offers technological education and agro-related information to assist farmers in meeting safety and application standards for chemicals and fertilizers.
Soil revitalization campaign
The NACF set November 9 as ‘The Day of Soil’ and has been carrying out a nationwide campaign for soil revitalization. As part of the campaign, the NACF tests soils across the country and holds related symposia. The NACF and member cooperatives are monitoring illegal disposal of industrial wastes and discharge of industrial sewage.
Community
‘Love Our Farming Villages’ campaign
NACF has launched a campaign for mutual prosperity of cities and farming villages to improve the quality of life of urbanites and farmers alike, and to make farming villages more vibrant places to live in.
Traditional culture
NACF plays a key role in preserving the unique, local traditional culture of every region in Korea. Nong-hyup supports many local events. One of NACF’s important activities is ‘Root Finding’ in which people can find historic remains like Jang-seung, Sot-dae, and pavillon tree, and trace across cultural remains.
Sponsoring regional culture events
The NACF sponsors traditional regional events like the Yeo-ju Rice Festival, the Kum-san Ginseng Feast, the Choon-cheon Noodle Feast, and the Red Pepper Feast as well as ‘Sun-nong-je’, a ceremony praying for an ample harvest. These events combine the regions’ unique colors and spices.
NACF Hyo Awards and Children’s Competitions
On Parent’s Day, NACF holds the Hyo Awards which are awarded to the sons or daughters showing devotion to their parents and for the youth who have taken care of the elderly. The National Children’s Painting and Composition Competition and Exhibition also gives children a chance to understand the value of agriculture.
ZEN-NOH
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 12, 2007 - 3:30pm. Zen-Noh | Food and Agriculture | Japan | Products | Environment | Principles/CSRZEN-NOH, Japan’s federation of agricultural co-operatives is one of the largest in the world. It purchases and distributes material and equipment for agricultural production for almost 3 million farm households in Japan. It is equally involved in the collection, distribution, and marketing of agricultural products.
Global 300 ranking:
1Number of members:
4,444,800Member Dividend:
USD $2,126,577,815Number of employees:
12,557Gender Diversity:
17% of employees are femaleTurnover:
USD $: 2,147,483,647Type of Co-operative:
Co-operative FederationDate founded:
1972Operating Countries:
Japan
Website:
Products
Green Labelling:
ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives Association), has developed sophisticated green labelling and product promotion strategies linked to company monitored production programmes. For producers of small volumes of organically certified products aiming to secure premium prices for quality products, the supermarkets are unlikely to offer the returns available through specialist stores.
Establishment of an Inspection and Quality Control System:
ZEN-NOH has urged all ZEN-NOH group food product departments and companies and feed companies to acquire ISO9001 status (including SQF2000.) The agrichemical residue inspection system was strengthened by expanding Agricultural Research and Development Centre facilities and equipment. In preparation for the complete
privatization of agricultural product inspections in 2006, ZEN-NOH developed a rice inspection system for JA to replace the current nationalized inspection system.
Approval of Agrichemicals for Minor Crops:
The ‘JA Group Minor Crop Measures Headquarters’ was established in August 2003 to promote approval of agrichemicals for minor crops and work was begun towards that goal.
Preserving a stable supply of rice:
They are involved in the planned production and stable supply of rice, Japan’s staple food. The JA Group promotes the planned production of rice based on demand in order to keep supply and demand in balance.
Thinking of the consumers:
- JA Rice is rice provided by the JA Group based on the fundamental concept of ‘safety and reliability.’ This trusted rice is:
- produced from seeds confirmed to be of a certain variety (100% pure seed), and
- inspected by a registration agency.
In addition - production history records are verified.
- ‘Pearl Rice,’ the JA Group’s milled rice brand, is the nickname of the rice delivered by the JA Group to rice stores, the Japanese Consumer Cooperative Union (JCCU), JAs and supermarkets. In the production of its rice, the JA Group promotes the acquisition of ISO9001 status and thorough quality control.
- Horticultural Farm Products Industry: They are involved in many projects in the horticultural industry, including the co-operative adjustment of supply and demand in major production areas.
Environment
Environmental Measures:
- Livestock: To comply with the final enactment of the Livestock Waste Law in November 2004, ZEN-NOH established the ‘National Livestock Farmer Individual Inspection Campaign’ within the JA Group.
- Recycling: ZEN-NOH is promoting recycling-based agriculture by operating large-scale livestock manure treatment facilities, handling manure properly, and producing quality compost.
- Agriculture: As part of strengthening measures to create environmentally friendly agriculture, ZEN-NOH increased use of biodegradable mulch by providing information on its use and establishing local test plots.
ISO14001: On January 30, 2003, ZEN-NOH held a conference to kick off its pursuit of ISO14001 status. All prefectural headquarters, including the Ehime Prefectural Headquarters that was combined in April 2004, achieved ISO14001 status in 2005.
SEHI-MEIZIN: ZEN-NOH developed the original software named ‘SEHI-MEIZIN’, that means ‘The best Application Master’ for coated fertilizer. It enables the prediction of the release duration and pattern of coated fertilizer during the actual cultivation period only by inputting the soil temperature information of the area.
CSR Streams
Submitted by Garry Cronan on October 10, 2007 - 4:50pm. People | Products | Principles | Environment | Community | Democracy | Principles/CSR | DevelopmentThe seven CSR streams define corporate/co-operative social responsibility for the Global 300 initiative. They are linked to the seven colours of the ICA brand identity and have been designed to identify the main areas that highlight the co-operative difference around democracy. CSR is a broad subject with no clear definition and the streams focus on the areas that matter.
People
The People/fundamental stakeholder groups are customers and employees, and included are aspects such as: health and safety, training and development, diversity, compensation, volunteering, satisfaction, absenteeism, feedback, and access to services.
Products
Products represent the organisation’s products/services, marketing/labelling, the supply chain and interaction with suppliers, around codes of conduct and sustainability.
Principles
Principles represent the underpinning values and principles, as well as the targets, monitoring and day-to-day implementation of CSR throughout the organisation and externally. It attempts to identify organisations that have truly integrated CSR into their strategy and working culture.
Environment
Environment represents all environmental or green initiatives and data such as renewable energy, waste, transport, energy usage, climate change, transport, paper, animal welfare and biodiversity. Processes, accreditations and targets are also included along with research and green marketing.
Community
Community represents local/national initiatives ranging from youth, healthcare, education, employment, working with Governments/NGOs to culture and sponsorship.
Democracy
Democracy is fundamental to highlighting the co-operative difference and represents members and governance. Criterion includes democratic participation, education, training, diversity, Board representation, dividends and satisfaction.
Development
Development focuses more upon international initiatives, support and collaboration with other co-operatives, from philanthropy, sharing expertise, work with NGOs/Governments, disaster relief and favourable access to products.
