Our milestones
Sustainability has been integral to our business activity for decades. These milestones testify to this and we work hard on new projects each year.
2020
We were the first retailer in Switzerland to introduce a project for living wages in the Dominican Republic together with Fairtrade Max Havelaar. With additional projects in Ghana and Honduras, we are pursuing our goal of improving the income situation of smallholder farmers and enabling a decent standard of living in the long term.
As a hydrogen pioneer, we are going one step further and commissioning seven of the world's first mass-produced hydrogen-powered trucks in 2020. These will help us to save around 80 tonnes of CO2 per truck per year – a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Our new packaging roadmap summarizes our efforts in the area of packaging reduction: Packaging is due to be optimized and, by 2026, we should be saving around 20% of plastic in packaging and single-use items. Processes from suppliers to sales outlets are being increasingly considered as cycles, recyclable materials are being reused and material loss is being continuously reduced.
We were the first major retailer in Switzerland to be certified for our commitment to fair wages. The «Fair Compensation» certificate confirms that our remuneration policy satisfies the criteria for compliance with fair wages, ensuring all of our employees receive the same chances regardless of gender and background.
25 years of Coop Naturaline: Since 1995, we have focused on environmentally and socially responsible textile production with Coop Naturaline. Today, Naturaline offers the world's largest range of fair and environmentally-friendly organic cotton textiles. Naturaline is synonymous with 100% fair production, transparency in the supply chain and CO2 neutrality.
2019
To promote sustainable consumption and the protection of the environment, Coop has extended its successful long-term partnership with WWF until 2024. Together with the WWF, for instance, we have commitments in the areas of fish, palm oil, soya, timber and paper. We also undertake joint projects with the aim of saving energy and reducing and offsetting CO2 emissions.
The WWF has given Switzerland's most important wholesaler and retailer a new environmental rating. Coop has risen further up the rankings since the last rating in 2015 in almost every area of action. Coop’s sustainability achievements have been called «pioneering» and referred to as «visionary» in a number of areas.
On Saturday, 25 May 2019, Coop called for the first «Day of good deeds». Together with five major partners, Coop aims to motivate people to do as many good deeds as possible, thus generating positive momentum throughout Switzerland. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers took part in the «Day of good deeds» and displayed their solidarity with their fellow humans and their environment.
Coop customers will find even more plastic-free alternatives and products without packaging on our shelves. Since 2012, we have reduced or environmentally optimized around 30 000 tonnes of packaging materials. By the end of 2021, we will have optimized a further 5 000 tonnes or so of packaging material.
2018
Coop is increasing the minimum requirements for the production of conventional milk. The new milk programme is strongly based on sustainability and even better animal welfare. Swiss farmers will also benefit from this change, as the new milk programme will guarantee them a higher income.
Coop is in the leading group (Tier 1) of the international Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) for the fifth time in a row. No other company in Switzerland has ever achieved this feat.
We are starting our palm oil offensive and will in future also use organic palm oil from systematically sustainable production in our conventional own-label brands too.
25 years of Naturaplan: we are celebrating the birthday of our largest own-label sustainability brand with numerous measures and the launch of over 350 new Naturaplan products. As such, the Naturaplan range now comprises more than 2 500 products.
In January 2018, Coop joined the «Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa». The newly-founded association is committed to ensuring that, in future, the majority of all imported products containing cocoa are sustainably produced.
2017
For the second time, we are officially named the world's most sustainable retailer. Oekom Research reviewed and rated 148 retailers around the world based on around 100 criteria and again picked us as the frontrunner.
We have worked with the Max Havelaar Foundation for 25 years and have been a Fairtrade partner since the outset. This long-standing partnership has paid off and has chalked up some unique successes.
We were the first retailer to develop a water standard that governs the sustainable use of water in agriculture. We are therefore committed to protecting the valuable resource of water over the long term.
2016
Since 2016, all fish and seafood has come from 100 % sustainable sources – whether fresh, frozen, tinned or in the restaurant. We also offer the largest selection of organic-grade seafood in Switzerland:
At Railcare, we are introducing a world first: we now chill our food with electricity generated via the axles while in transit. This enables us to reduce diesel consumption for refrigeration by 75 percent per container wagon.
As in 2013 we again achieve an excellent score in the «Animal Welfare in Retail 2015/2016» report of Swiss Animal Protection (SAP). We also take first place in the international animal welfare rating BBFAW for the fourth consecutive year.
We open Switzerland’s first public hydrogen filling station in Hunzenschwil (AG). At the same time the first hydrogen-powered truck and several company cars are integrated into our fleet.
Wholesale is setting new standards in terms of sustainability and developing the Transgourmet own-label brand «Ursprung» into a Group-wide own-label sustainability brand.
2015
Our Fairtrade growth strategy reaches the half-way point. The goal is to switch all raw materials from developing and emerging countries to fair trade by 2020.
2015
Start of strategic partnership with the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) for even closer collaboration.
2015
Our environmentally friendly non-food own-label brand Oecoplan is recommended by WWF, the internationally renowned nature and environment protection organization.
2015
We support the «Sustainable Construction Network Switzerland» (NNBS) construction standard, the first standard in Switzerland to take account of all facets of sustainable construction.
2014
25th anniversary of Coop Oecoplan with the launch of 239 products as part of a dual branding initiative with brand manufacturers, and an increase in sales to CHF 142 million.
2014
The first Green Business Partner Conference to raise awareness among our business partners for a greater commitment to sustainability and launch of more than 300 joint projects.
2014
Participation in the Fairtrade cocoa programme by Fairtrade Max Havelaar, which involves switching more than 100 additional chocolate products to fairly traded cocoa.
2014
Start of field trial of dual-purpose chickens.
2013
Approval of the multi-year sustainability targets for 2014-2020 for the entire Coop Group.
2013
20-year anniversary of Coop Naturaplan and increase in sales of organic products to over CHF 1 billion.
2013
Confirmation of excellent performance in animal protection in a study by Swiss Animal Protection (SAP) and the International «Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare» (BBFAW).
2013
Awarded the «Zurich Climate Prize» for RailCare.
2012
Coop Naturaline is named by Sustainia as one of the world's 100 most sustainable solutions for the future.
2012
Over 98 percent of the seafood range (fish and seafood) is switched to sustainable products.
2012
Takeover of Frutigen and Wolhusen greenhouses with restaurant, exhibitions and production.
2011
Declared the world's most sustainable retailer by Oekom Research AG.
2011
The Coop sustainability report receives an Öbu prize for the third time (previous awards in 2005 and 2007).
2011
Awarded the «Goldener Zuckerhut» (Golden Sugarloaf) for pioneering work in the field of sustainability.
2011
Changeover begins of high-turnover Coop Qualité & Prix product ranges to Fairtrade raw materials.
2011
A programme is launched to reduce and optimize packaging for Coop own-label brands.
2011
Switzerland's first wood-burning furnace for an industrial bakery reduces CO2 emissions by 70 percent.
2010
New Logistics and Bakery Strategy 2015+ reduces annual CO2 emissions by 4 800 tonnes thanks partly to unaccompanied combined transport.
2010
Abandons nuclear power and converts to 100 percent low CO2-emission hydroelectric power from Switzerland and Europe.
2010
First Coop supermarket exclusively lit by LED lighting
2009
Coop sustainability strategy agreed and integrated into strategic controlling.
2009
Topten quality label introduced.
2009
Coop Verde American Express green credit card launched.
2008
«CO2-neutral by 2023» vision agreed for all areas within Coop’s direct sphere of influence.
2008
The Coop Naturaplan Fund becomes the Coop Sustainability Fund and is gradually replenished at a rate of CHF 15 million per year.
2008
The «Verde» magazine on organic produce and sustainability is launched.
2007
Coop Naturaplan is repositioned as a purely organic label.
2007
Coop own-label sustainability brands Naturafarm and Pro Montagna introduced.
2007
Strategic cooperation with Hochstamm Suisse.
2007
Food profile introduced on own-label products.
2007
By Air logo introduced to denote air-freighted goods. The CO2 emissions generated by air freight are offset.
2007
First Coop supermarket in line with the Minergie standard.
2006
Exclusive partnership with Slow Food Switzerland. First products launched in 2007.
2006
Founding member of the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS).
2006
Strategic partnership with WWF Switzerland focusing on forests, oceans, fish and the climate.
2005
Partnership with Schweizer Tafel and Tischlein deck dich food banks.
2005
Joins the amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) and adopts its Code of Conduct.
2005
GlobalG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practices (GRASP) project begins, involving Coop, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and GlobalG.A.P. Officially accepted by GlobalG.A.P. in 2010.
2004
The Coop Group publishes its first sustainability report.
2004
The Coop code of conduct is introduced. Its aim is to ensure business partners are dealt with fairly.
2004
«Regional organic products» are launched as part of Coop Naturaplan.
2004
Joins the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
2004
«Basel criteria for responsible soya cultivation» drawn up with WWF Switzerland.
2003
Naturaplan Fund launched with an annual budget of CHF 10 million.
2002
Naturaline awarded the UN environment prize for sustainable partnership.
2002
Comprehensive and binding guidelines produced for sustainable sourcing. Revised in 2008 and 2011.
2002
FSC quality label introduced.
2001
Sales of the own-label sustainability brands and quality labels Coop Naturaplan, Coop Naturaline, Coop Oecoplan and Max Havelaar exceed CHF 1 billion for the first time.
2000
The Coop Textile Code is agreed. This is a code of conduct for the textile industry.
2000
Launch of MSC-certified seafood products.
1997
BioRe Foundation established by Remei AG, with Coop as a board member.
1993
Coop Naturaplan and Coop Naturaline own-label sustainability brands introduced and Coop Oecoplan repositioned.
1992
The present Max Havelaar quality label is introduced as the Coop own-label brand Cooperacion.
