What  is  the  form  for ?

The pledge form allows customers to make a promise to always choose ethical mineral water over standard mineral water when shopping at The Co-operative. 

What has The Co-op done ?

Ethical mineral water: The Co-operative Fairbourne Springs

The retailer launched an own-label ethical mineral water - The Co-operative Fairbourne Springs - which was the first of its kind in the UK.

Why  is  The  Co-op  doing  this ?

· One billion people in the world don't have access to clean water
· Two million people die every year from water-related diseases

Just £7,800 funds the installation of a PlayPump® water pumping system in Africa, ensuring people get free, readily available, clean water.

What  can  I  do ?

Every time a customer buys a bottle or multi-pack of The Co-operative Fairbourne Springs Mineral Water, the retailer automatically makes a donation to the One Foundation, the charitable division of One Water, to fund these unique PlayPump® water systems.

The Co-op also stocks the One Water brand, all profits of which go towards funding PlayPump® systems. 

What  are  PlayPump ®  systems ?

The innovative PlayPump® water pumping systems are powered by roundabouts, which children play on and pump water up to a storage tank for use by the whole community. 

What  has  been  done  so  far ?

One Foundation: money raised has funded PlayPump® water systems

Since the launch of the Fairbourne Springs ethical water, The Co-op has already raised a massive £200,000 for the One Foundation, enough to fund 26 PlayPump® water systems.

This means that The Co-op's customers have directly helped to improve the lives of over 60,000 people. 

The Co-op hopes the online campaign and Water Pledge will help it to deliver fresh clean water to one million people in Africa by the end of 2009 from sales of the water.

 

 

What  does  The  Co-op  say ?

Vicky Wood, Category Marketing Manager at The Co-op Group, commented: "We are hoping that by signing the pledge form, customers will be encouraged to stop and think whenever they are buying mineral water.

"We want them to make informed choices based on the information that the new website will provide.

"The Co-operative sells approximately 850,000 bottles of mineral water a week, and if just half of our mineral water customers bought either Fairbourne Springs or One Water instead of their usual brand, we could help to transform the lives of thousands upon thousands more people in Africa, providing them with clean water, something that people in this country take for granted every day of their lives."

Where  has  this  campaign  come  from ?

The pledge campaign reflects the results of a recent six-month consultation programme with members and customers on the development of a food ethical policy.

The Co-op recently revealed that more than 100,000 members across the UK responded to the poll to guide its responsible retailing strategy. 

As well as providing an overwhelming mandate for its existing ethical policies, members also strongly signalled their future priorities for action.  More than one in four of Co-op members cited ethical trading as their priority.

Where  can  I  sign  the  form  and  find  out  more ?

As well as the pledge form, the new website also includes case studies, background information and even a viral game, "Play Pump", inspired by the PlayPump® water system.

It also has a send-to-a-friend function encouraging pledgers to invite their friends to join the initiative.

To sign the pledge and find out more visit The Co-op online.

Pledges can also be made free of charge by texting 'Water' with your first name and surname to 82088.