| Ecological Sustainability |
| Shareholders |
Our sole equity shareholder, Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS), is as committed to the idea of ecological sustainability as The Co-operative Bank. During 1997 the two organisations consulted closely on a wide range of projects.
The environmental impact of PVC production.
Last year, CWS and other retailers from the 'PVC Retail Working Group' agreed that The Co-operative Bank National Centre for Business & Ecology should produce a detailed scientific report on the environmental impact of PVC production. The National Centre for Business & Ecology was established in 1995 by The Co-operative Bank in conjunction with four of the country's leading Universities (see page 80 for further details).
The Centre's report concluded that certain aspects of PVC production may be harmful to the environment. In response the group of retailers will agree a deadline with the PVC industry to clean up production methods and drive for exceptional standards. If the PVC industry does not meet the challenge - then the use of PVC will be phased out. In response to the report, the CWS's Trade Liaison Manager noted that "PVC is useful to retailers and to consumers in the home, but unless production standards are tightened up to reduce pollution we will commit to phasing out these products."
We are delighted that CWS and the Bank's National Centre for Business & Ecology have been able to work jointly on this project. The Bank has its own concerns over PVC production and disposal, and these are detailed in the sections on Suppliers and Society
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| In our annual Financial Statements we provide a full review of The | |
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| Our sole equity shareholder, Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS), is as commited to the idea of social responsibility as is The Co-operative Bank. | |
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