GUELPH, ON, June 15, 2015 /CNW/ - The leadership and commitment to sustainability demonstrated by The Co-operators has been recognized for the sixth consecutive year, as it has been ranked among the top ten on the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list.

Corporate Knights is an organization dedicated to the promotion of responsible business practices in Canada and the advancement of social and environmental sustainability worldwide. The list evaluates companies' performance on a wide range of sustainability indicators including board diversity, resource use, sustainability mandate and oversight, and percentage of women in executive management.

"We approach our sustainability journey in a comprehensive and balanced manner that reflects our identity as a co-operative," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "We continue to aspire to be a sustainability leader, and it's through the commitment and support at all levels of our organization that we're having success in advocating, educating and acting to create a more sustainable future."

In 2014, The Co-operators became the first Canadian insurance company to sign the Montreal Carbon Pledge, through which it committed to measuring and publicly disclosing the carbon footprint of its investment portfolio. Ninety-eight per cent of The Co-operators assets are now managed under its Sustainable Investment Policy. Also last year, The Co-operators achieved a 50 per cent reduction in net carbon emissions compared to 2010 levels. 

Co-operative values and principles are inherently linked to sustainability, and that connection can been seen with the appearance of five co-operatives on this year's list.

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/sustainability_report. 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 $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 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