Sustainability Report 2009 - The Co-operative

Biodiversity
Indicators
MSC-certified fish species sold
MCS ‘Fish to Avoid’ species sold
FSC-certified timber products sold
Use of palm oil in own-brand products
Peat content of growing media sold
Biodiversity initiatives
Biodiversity enhancement
Targets 2009
Progress the sourcing of sustainable palm oil within
The Co-operative Food (page 77).
Increase the number of Marine Stewardship Council
(MSC)-certified fish products sold by The Co-operative
Food (page 75).
Agree funding for four UK fisheries to progress MSC
certification (page 75).
Achieve FSC certification for The Co-operative Food’s
greaseproof paper by 2010 (page 77).
Raise, through the RSPB credit card, £400,000 for
Britain’s threatened wetlands during 2009 (page 79).
Progress wildflower seed trials on The Co-operative
Farms’ sites as part of Plan Bee, during 2009 (page 78).
Ensure 50% of The Co-operative Travel’s point-of-sale
material is FSC-certified by end 2009 (page 77).
target achieved
on track
Targets 2010
close to target
behind schedule
target not
achieved
• Ensure all own-brand fish products are labelled as
‘Responsibly Sourced’.
• Ensure no own-brand products contain fish from the
Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS’s) ‘Fish to Avoid’ list.
• Ensure palm oil used in all own-brand products is 100%
certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) by 2015.
• Complete the conversion of at least 15 own-brand
products to CSPO during 2010.
• Progress wildflower seed trials on The Co-operative
Farms’ sites, as part of Plan Bee, during 2010.
• Pursue ‘Graduate Status’ for The Co-operative Food
within the WWF-FTN in 2010.
• Raise, through the RSPB credit card, £400,000 for
Britain’s threatened wetlands during 2010.
• Ensure 90% or more of The Co-operative Travel’s pointof-sale
material remains FSC-certified during 2010.
• Achieve FSC certification for The Co-operative Food’s
greaseproof paper during 2010.
Background
The 2008 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Index study
showed that between a quarter and a third of the world’s wildlife
has been lost since 1970. Furthermore, it suggested that humans
are responsible for wiping out around 1% of all other species every
year, with one of the ‘great extinction episodes’ in the earth’s
history currently underway 1 . A recent Natural England report
identified nearly 500 plants and animals that have become extinct
in England, virtually all in the last two centuries. Nearly 1,000
native species have also been given conservation priority status
because of the severity of the threats facing them 2 .
President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso,
has emphasised the importance of biodiversity preservation for
economic development within the EU: “Biodiversity is integral to
sustainable development, underpins competitiveness, growth and
employment and improves livelihoods. Biodiversity loss, and the
consequent decline of ecosystem services, is a grave threat to
our societies and economies” 3 .
Materiality and strategy
In the most recent ethical policy consultations undertaken for
the food, banking and investments businesses, members and
customers indicated their wish for The Co-operative to pursue
measures to protect and promote biodiversity. As one of the
country’s largest farmers, The Co-operative has a direct impact
on the UK’s biodiversity. In total, over 20,000 hectares of land are
farmed at 13 farm units in England and Scotland (of which over
10,000 hectares are owned by The Co-operative). Furthermore,
implementation of a far-reaching Pesticides Policy, which has
significant implications for biodiversity, is described on page 83.
The business also exerts a significant impact on biodiversity via
the products offered by The Co-operative Food, CFS’ provision or
non-provision of finance to businesses and its engagement with
businesses to promote sustainability.
Marine stewardship
Globally, three-quarters of commercial fish stocks are fully or
over-exploited, and nearly 90% of stocks of large, predatory fish
have already disappeared. According to the United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organisation, ocean fisheries appeared to reach
maximum productivity limits in the late 1980s, and strong regional
fishery management is now required to rebuild depleted stocks and
prevent the collapse of other stocks.
Since 1998, The Co-operative Food has
been a supporter of the Marine Stewardship
Council (MSC) – an independent, global,
non-profit organisation that uses a marketbased
approach to help improve the
management practices of fisheries.
During 2009, the number of Co-operative Food own-brand
products containing MSC-certified fish increased from 14 to
18 4 . The four MSC-certified products launched during 2009
were: Alaskan pollock fishcakes, hoki in parsley sauce, fresh
hake Provençal and hake fillets. In 2008, The Co-operative
ring-fenced £200,000 to support the certification of UK fisheries
to the MSC standard. Over half of this was committed in 2009
to support six fisheries through full MSC assessment, and the
pre-assessment of a further one. Support has been provided
to fisheries throughout England and Scotland, which include a
wide variety of commercially valuable fish and shellfish species.
Additional candidates for certification will be sought during 2010.
The Co-operative Group Sustainability Report 2009 75
Ecological sustainability Climate change Waste and packaging Biodiversity Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals