On World Environment Day, Coop Italy Celebrates the Success of Its “Foresta Blu” Campaign

As we mark World Environment Day, Euro Coop proudly highlights Coop Italy’s outstanding environmental commitment, especially its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. At the forefront is the Foresta Blu project — a bold initiative to restore and protect the seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica, a crucial species for Mediterranean marine biodiversity and carbon absorption.

Launched in May 2024 from the marine protected area of Bergeggi, Foresta Blu has now reached its final milestones with the completion of planting operations off Elba Island, restoring 300 m² of seagrass and introducing 2,000 new plants to the seabed near Cavo, supported by Unicoop Tirreno and local institutions.

Scientific monitoring led by the International School for Scientific Diving (ISSD) and the University of Genoa has delivered promising early results, with a 76% survival rate of the new cuttings in Bergeggi. Five additional meadows — including sites in the Adriatic Sea — will continue to be monitored into 2025.

To ensure long-term impact, Coop  Italy has also implemented eco-friendly mooring buoy fields, using Manta Ray Anchors to prevent seabed damage from boats. These sustainable solutions promote both environmental protection and responsible tourism, supporting local diving centres and educational outreach.

The project, conducted in partnership with the Water Defenders Alliance and the environmentally responsible Anywave sailing team, exemplifies how consumer cooperatives can lead with concrete, science-based action. As Coop Italia President Maura Latini stated:

“In times when attention seems to shift elsewhere, consumer cooperatives remain focused on building a better future — not through slogans, but through concrete actions rooted in science and social responsibility.”

On this World Environment Day, Foresta Blu stands as a powerful example of how cooperatives protect natural ecosystems. These efforts collectively demonstrate the deep, ongoing commitment of consumer cooperatives to environmental sustainability — a mission grounded in cooperation, responsibility, and the belief that a healthier planet is a shared goal we must build together.