GUELPH, ON, April 27, 2012 /CNW/ - For the third consecutive year several members of The Co-operators group of companies were honoured among Canada's "Green 30" employers. The current edition of Maclean's, released yesterday, includes The Green 30 - a list of Canada's top employers that are highly regarded for their commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Specifically included were:

• The Co-operators, based in Guelph, Ontario, which includes co-operative holding company The Co-operators Group Ltd. as well as subsidiaries Co-operators General Insurance Company, HB Group Insurance Management Ltd. of Mississauga, and Addenda Capital of Montreal; L'Union Canadienne;
• Co-operators Life Insurance Company of Regina, Saskatchewan; and
• The Sovereign General Insurance Company of Calgary, Alberta.

Over the past several years, The Co-operators has embarked on its "sustainability journey." This has included reviewing operations in all of its member companies to improve the environmental, economic and social impacts it has in Canadian communities.

Insurance products and services with sustainability attributes have been created, including hybrid vehicle discounts and environmentally responsible home policy endorsements. Among other things, claims handling procedures have been changed to minimize harmful environmental impacts, energy efficiency initiatives are being implemented, and a sustainable purchasing policy has been put in place across the group of companies.

"As a co-operative we make business decisions based on doing what is right and what is sustainable for our stakeholders and communities," said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. "People at every level of the organization are engaged in, and are a part of our sustainability journey. As the results of our employee engagement surveys demonstrate, our staff members appreciate being part of an organization that is making a genuine effort to promote sustainability."

International human resources firm Aon Hewitt introduced The Green 30 list in 2009, using results of confidential surveys completed by employees. The surveys gauge staff members' assessments of their employers' "green" credentials. A full 95 per cent of staff members surveyed agreed that The Co-operators is "socially and environmentally responsible."

Each of the 30 companies that made the list were those judged to excel at:

• considering long-term social, environmental and economic impacts when it makes decisions;
• working to minimize the impact of its operations, products and services on the environment; and
• adopting and disclosing practices that are environmentally responsible.

The Green 30 list is based on confidential information collected from employees, business leaders and human resources professionals. For more information on The Co-operators sustainability efforts, please visit the Sustainability section of www.cooperators.ca.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $40 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is ranked #1 among the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights, and listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada. As a proud member and supporter of the co-operative sector, The Co-operators is pleased to celebrate 2012: The International Year of Co-operatives. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.