Keeping communities thriving

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2 Keeping communities thriving We recognise that supporting the communities we serve is a crucial role for The Co-operative Funeralcare. We made a commitment in 2011 to offer additional support to our communities through a variety of initiatives and here s what we ve achieved so far: We ve supported bereaved children in our communities We ve developed valuable links with the local communities we serve We have helped to get children home from school safely We ve supported our servicemen and women We have supported The Co-operative Charity of the Year Leading the way in funerals The Co-operative Funeralcare has long recognised that a funeral which reflects the life, character and achievements of an individual brings significant emotional comfort to those left behind. That s why, in 2011, we made a commitment to provide even more choice in funeral arrangements. We have put significant resources behind the development of Resomation A new alternative to cremation, Resomation has a number of environmental benefits including a reduction in the amount of energy needed in comparison to cremation and a carbon footprint which is 35% less than cremation. 2

3 Keeping communities thriving We ve created new bee habitats within our Woodland Burial Grounds As part of The Co-operative Group s Plan Bee campaign to reverse the decline of UK bee and pollinator populations, we have created 10 acres of wildflower meadows at our three woodland burial grounds at Poole & Wimborne and Hinton Park in Dorset, and Mayfields Rememberance Park in the Wirral, Merseyside. Tackling global poverty We strive to make a difference globally, helping those who live in the Third World through ethical trade and co-operative support. We are building fair and sustainable relationships without suppliers To ensure that the workers are treated responsibly and ethically, we developed a Sound Sourcing Code of Conduct and continue to work with suppliers to secure decent working conditions throughout our supply chain. We only supply Fairtrade Tea and Coffee in our funeral homes The Co-operative was the first major retailer to champion Fairtrade, pioneering the sale of fairly traded goods before the Fairtrade mark was introduced. As part of this effort The Co-operative Funeralcare offers only Fairtrade Tea and coffee in every one of our Funeral Homes. 3

4 Our People At The Co-operative Funeralcare, we understand that young people are our future and we are committed to offering real world opportunities that give a diverse range of people a first step into the world of professional work. We ve helped people gain quality work experience Around 400 young people were recruited to The Co-operative Groups s Apprentice Academy scheme in And as we look towards the future, The Co-operative Funeralcare welcomed nine full-time apprentices to the business in 2012 all of whom are studying for their National Vocational Qualification in Funeral Directing. We are delighted they have chosen to embark on their careers with us. Working with Mencap In 2012 Mencap launched Employ Me, a service which enables people with learning disabilities to find paid work and to develop the skills they need for the workplace. A joint partnership between The Co-operative Funeralcare and Mencap has seen three adults assisted into permanent jobs within our business including a funeral home and a crematorium in Scotland. 4

5 Our Achievements There are few occasions in life that remind us of the importance of a family more than a funeral. It s a time when young and old come together in mutual support. Funerals remind us all of what we owe to previous generations and what we owe to the next. At The Co-operative Funeralcare we take our commitment to present and future generations very seriously. That s why last year, in line with The Co-operative Group s Ethical Plan, we established our Ethical Strategy. This strategy sets out how social and environmental issues such as climate change, global poverty, and community involvement are managed in the day-to-day running of our business. The report summarises our achievements so far and we are delighted with how far we ve come. Our Ethical Strategy is an integral part of our business and we intend to continue to focus our efforts in the future. Protecting the environment We recognise that the Earth s resources are limited and that businesses must play a part in reducing their impact on the environment in order to protect it for future generations. That s why The Co-operative Group aims to be among the world s most environmentally responsible businesses. Here s what we ve achieved so far: We have committed to being carbon neutral We ve invested more in renewable energy We ve helped protect the world s forests by using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council ) certified wood in the production of our coffins 5