Co-operative Group voted UK’s most ethical company
The Co-operative Group has been voted the UK’s most ethical company over the past 25 years in a survey by Ethical Consumer magazine.
The magazine conducted a poll of readers as part of plans to mark its 25th anniversary.
In explaining why The Co-operative Group won the accolade, Ethical Consumer co-director Tim Hunt said: “Over the past 25 years The Co-op has been at the forefront of the ethical consumer movement.
“From its supermarket, which was the first retailer to stock only Fairtrade bananas and ban products from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to the pioneering ethical policy of its bank, The Co-operative Group has been a genuine ethical trailblazer.
Never Miss a Retail Update!“Many commentators have had their knives out for The Co-op in recent months. Ethical Consumer’s readers however are able to see through the spin and realise that despite the problems The Co-op remains an ethical business at heart – at least for the time being.”
Other retailers to make the readers’ top ten list of most ethical companies included cosmetic brand Lush, fashion retailer People Tree, and department store John Lewis.
Respondents were also asked what they thought would be the most important developments in ethical shopping over the next 25 years.
The top five answers included better ethical labelling, more Fairtrade products, greater corporate transparency, cracking down on tax avoidance and greater use of social media to share ethical shopping choices.
