Social responsibility continues to gain ground among Italian companies. Coop, always in a leading position on the ethics of production, has presented the campaign “Good&Fair Coop” on March 17, 2016, in Rome, at the Ministry of Agricultural Policies, with Minister Maurizio Martina present.
The 13 “dirty supply chains” under control
The initiative is one that leaves a mark. Italy's leading retail chain extends legality controls to all fruit and vegetables sold in its 1,100 stores. Supply chain controls, from field to table, for citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, watermelons, grapes, new potatoes, and 5 other widely consumed vegetables.
The same rigorous criteria used to select suppliers of Coop branded products are now extended to all suppliers of fruit and vegetable products from the 13 supply chains at risk of crime and exploitation, the so-called “dirty supply chains,” where an estimated 400,000 workers, 80% of whom are foreigners, are oppressed.
“A serious phenomenon, which does not only concern the South, and which damages the economy of our country,” says Marco Pedroni, president of Coop, who recalls: “Daily behaviors matter for change.”
The guarantees offered to the consumer
First distributor in Europe to adopt, in 1998, the SA8000 standard to obtain precise guarantees in the field of social responsibility from its branded product suppliers, Coop has always monitored the entire supply chain of agri-food products offered under its own brand. A selection criterion well known to 8 million Coop members and increasingly observed by Italian consumers. Primarily the consumActors, who share social responsibility through purchasing choices and active participation.
From branded products to all fruit and vegetables present in stores
The “Good&Fair” operation involves all 832 Coop fruit and vegetable suppliers, with whom work over 70,000 farms. For all, there is an obligation to sign the Code of Ethics and accept the control plan aimed at verifying compliance with the agreements. Otherwise, exclusion from the list of suppliers.
The 7,200 farms that supply products later marketed under the Coop brand – already “clean” – are also invited to join the ministerial Quality Agricultural Work Network, which certifies the company's compliance with laws, including contractual and social security, and the absence of convictions or criminal proceedings.
Marta Strinati
Professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and magazines (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). Author of food journalistic investigations, she published the book 'Reading labels to know what we eat'.
