Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Co-op and Nisa help raise £20 million for clean water projects

Co-op and Nisa help raise £20 million for clean water projects
Photography: Alexander James-Aylin

Co-op has today (22), on World Water Day, announced that its members and customers have raised over £20 million to date to support clean water and sanitation projects, through its partnership with The One Foundation and Water Unite.

The convenience retailer is the only supermarket to have an own brand charity water, which is available at almost 7,500 convenience stores, including independent Nisa retailers who are supplied by Co-op.


As part of this initiative, 3p of every litre of Co-op own brand water sold goes to The One Foundation – a UK charity funding grants into systems-change implementation into humanitarian water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes. Sales from Co-op have helped change the lives of over 2.9 million people across the world.

Furthermore, as a pioneer partner to Water Unite, 1p of every litre of branded water is also donated to support clean water projects together with Co-op’s branded suppliers. Water Unite contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals initiative to end water poverty by 2030 through the funding of water, sanitation and hygiene projects by applying a micro-levy to bottled water sales globally.

Shirine Khoury-Haq, Co-op chief executive, said: “Water is a precious resource, sustaining all life on earth. Yet access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is taken for granted by many and remains elusive for poorer nations. The climate crisis is only widening this gap.

“It is vital that businesses understand the importance of water scarcity and take action in the communities from which they source, here in the UK and around the world. Equally, it is important to help consumers understand the impact of the products and services they buy, on people and the planet. The £20 million raised through our commitments is an incredible achievement, made possible through choices made by our members and customers to buy Co-op brand water, and is a fantastic example of how shopping at Co-op can really make a difference.”

These latest fundraising figures reveal that Nisa customers have collectively raised more than £1million, towards the total £20m, for The One Foundation since becoming part of the Co-op Group in 2018 and stocking Co-op own-brand water.

Peter Batt, Managing Director of Nisa, said: “Nisa customers continue to make a valuable contribution to The One Foundation by buying Co-op branded water through Nisa. We know our independent retailers are always looking for ways to make a difference locally but this initiative gives them a platform to contribute to a global effort too.

“To reach the milestone of donating over £1 million is fantastic and we are extremely proud of our Nisa customers for the contribution they make through their purchasing.”.

Working in partnership with The One Foundation, Co-op has spent the last 16 years investing in clean water, sanitation and hygiene projects around the world. Co-op is also pioneering partners for Water Unite, meaning that every bottle of water purchased at Co-op helps to support clean water security projects and changes lives around the world.

Nikki Armstrong, Programming and Partnerships Manager, The One Foundation, said: “We are so grateful for the leadership and commitment that Co-op has shown in ensuring clean water and sanitation for communities across Africa. The issues of water security, access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for all, and water pollution are all acute.

“It’s an astonishing, and sad, fact that almost a third of people on earth still don't have running water at home, and over 750 million people rely on unsafe water sources. In fact, only 54% of the world’s population are using safely managed sanitation services and every two minutes diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills a child under the age of five.”

World Water Day 2023 (Wednesday, 22 March) is an annual United Nations Observance, started in 1993, that celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without access to safe water. This year’s World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

More for you

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now, with Mandy House positioned second from right

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now

Employees from cash handling experts Volumatic have taken part in a special "Wear It Pink" day to raise money for cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now.

Around 40 staff members based at Volumatic’s Head Office in Coventry donned something pink – from socks, scarves and wigs to full head-to-toe outfits in pink, to raise funds for a charity very close to their hearts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre

'Devastating and out of touch' – indies react to Budget bombshell

Following the initial response condemning the Budget as 'the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory' from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), members have shared their stark reactions to the triple burden of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs.

Multiple retailers have calculated specific impacts on their businesses, with costs ranging from £90,000 to £150,000 per year.

"This budget was horrendous for us as a company. Estimated costs to be around £110,000 - £120,000 per year," said Andrew Massey of Masseys DIY in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Christie & Co

'Popular' Somerset store on the market as long-term owners retire


Brocks at Rockwell Green, a Premier-branded convenience store near Wellington, Somerset is on the market as owners Simon and Rachel Brock are now looking to retire - after running the store for nearly 25 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds announced as new co-owners of Wrexham Lager

Wrexham Lager Beer Co Ltd, the oldest lager brewery still existing in Britain that has been brewing in Wales since 1882, has announced Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as new co-owners of the company alongside the Roberts family.

The acquisition was made by Red Dragon Ventures, a joint venture formed by The R.R. McReynolds Company, majority owner of Wrexham AFC, and the Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York. Red Dragon Ventures was created to drive growth in the Wrexham community and Wrexham AFC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Solar and wind power
iStock

Leading beverage brands join forces to accelerate renewable energy adoption

Ten global beverage companies have joined forces under a new industry-wide consortium, called REfresh Alliance, which is designed to help accelerate renewable energy adoption across the industry’s supply chain.

The new initiative invites additional companies from across the beverage industry to pool and scale their resources to remove barriers to renewable energy adoption in the supply chain, provide education on best market practices and support the industry’s transition to Net Zero.

Keep ReadingShow less