International Cooperative Day 2022

On 2 July 2022, our movement across the world will celebrate the International Day of Co-operatives and this year we have two main reasons to be proud. Firstly, it is the 100th occasion of the CoopsDay and the 10th anniversary of the UN International Year of Co-operatives.

This gives us the opportunity to reflect on the co-operative movement’s long and successful history, which dates back to 1844. The slogan of this year’s edition is “Co-operatives Build a Better World”, which we believe fully reflects the nature of co-operatives.

Being locally rooted and owned by the individual members means co-operatives base their activities on a set of principles and values, which sees economic viability reconciled with environmental and social responsibility. This is needed more than ever as we attempt to curb climate change and shift human activity within planetary boundaries.

Consumer co-operatives build a better world through their frontrunner actions contributing to transition the current inefficient food chain into sustainable food systems. Euro Coop members champion consumer engagement aimed at supporting healthy and sustainable food choices and raising awareness of the environmental emergencies which we all face. Consumer co-operatives set science-based targets in an attempt to become carbon negative or carbon neutral and work with their suppliers to adopt stringent climate targets. Co-operative social responsibility aims to eliminate all forms of inequalities via, among others, policies of mandatory due diligence and constantly furthering their scope within the value chain.

Our movement has unequivocally demonstrated its inherent applicability of sustainability through entrepreneurial success of small, medium and large co-operatives operating for generations, which is evidence for their resilience and long-term strategic planning; social responsibility guaranteeing fair coexistence and eliminating all forms of discrimination; and environmental protection whereby our members fight climate change, ensure fair and sustainable food systems providing organic food, avoiding unnecessary packaging waste or promoting renewable energy, among many other measures.

All this reflects the significance of consumer co-operatives in Europe, which unite 30,000,000 consumer-members (owners), operate 94,000 points of sale, employ 750,000 citizens, and combine for € 72 billion annual turnover.

Furthermore, with our democratic people-centred work, we are an example of peaceful co-operation. We stand for democracy and peace, something that has become very important and relevant in the current times. 

The Euro Coop General Assembly wishes the wider co-op movement and our link-minded friends a happy International Day of Co-operatives through a video address.