GUELPH, ON, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - For the fifth consecutive year, The Co-operators has been ranked among the top ten organizations on the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list. The Co-operators is ranked #7 on this year's list compiled by Corporate Knights, an organization dedicated to the promotion of responsible and sustainable business practices. The Co-operators was one of five co-operatives on the list, four of which ranked among the top ten.

Corporate Knights' annual Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list ranks corporations based on 12 key performance indicators. These include companies' water, waste and energy use; carbon emissions; diversity among leadership; innovation; employee turnover; and whether executive compensation is tied to sustainability performance targets.

"We are pleased to be included on this list for the fifth consecutive year as it affirms that we are going in the right direction and our efforts to be a catalyst for a sustainable society are being recognized," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "2013 was the costliest year in Canadian history for insured storm damage. This was both an opportunity for our staff to step up and deliver on our promise to clients, and a reminder of the magnitude of the challenges our communities face in the 21^st century."

The Co-operators is very active in supporting research and advocating for better protections for Canadians and their property, including overland flood insurance. It partners with non-governmental organizations and others to deliver a number of safety- and resilience-focused programs across the country. It is working to operate more sustainably by reducing its impact on the environment and introducing sustainability-focused products and services.

Through a number of programs, The Co-operators provides financial support to emerging co-operatives and organizations working to build more equitable, vibrant and sustainable communities. It has been a member of Imagine Canada for 17 years, and in 2013 contributed more than $5.8 million, or 4.7 per cent of pre-tax profit, to support various community programs and initiatives.

For more information about the progress The Co-operators has made in advancing its sustainability goals, please see its annual Sustainability Report at www.cooperators.ca. To view the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list, please visit www.corporateknights.com.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $36 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 listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators