Ethical Policy

Listeners to Radio 4's Today programme (the one with the over-excitable John Humphrys, pictured) this morning would have heard the Co-op Group's Head of Ethics - Paul Monaghan talking about how we are balloting members about the new food retail ethical policy. I mentioned this earlier here. My favourite part of the piece was when the interviewer (with the normal degree of aggression and cynicism) asked if, in the event that the Co-op's members disagreed with the plan to reduce packaging, would the Co-op listen? "Yes" came the answer. The Radio 4 man, obviously thrown, mumbled something about that being fair enough and the interview ended.

The interview was also good, because it mentioned the ethical policies in place with the Co-operative Bank and CIS, and because Paul managed to point out that the Co-op is very much already controlled by its customer-members - the point about this project is that it will widen participation, and increase engagement.

There is further coverage in today's Guardian. Well done to the Ethics department at the Co-op on putting this ballot together, and congrats to the PR people for getting the story through a truly impressive number of news sources.