GUELPH, ON, April 11, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, The Co-operators Group Limited was recognized as first on Corporate Knights' new ranking of the Most Sustainable Co-operatives in the World, based on its commitment to sustainable business practices.

Corporate Knights is an organization dedicated to promoting "clean capitalism," which promotes and recognizes responsible and sustainable business practices. The Most Sustainable Co-operatives in the World ranking was developed based Corporate Knight's flagship Global 100 methodology which uses criteria including productivity, board diversity, resource usage, sustainability mandate, and senior level compensation tied to sustainability.

"Our employees and advisors are to be congratulated for the efforts they have made to help our organization become more sustainable, and act as a catalyst for sustainability," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "Co-operatives prioritize long-term value creation over short-term profit maximization, and take into account a broad range of stakeholder interests in their decision-making. It's a business model that naturally embeds sustainability principles into its operations."

The creation of the Most Sustainable Co-operatives in the World ranking is another indication of the growing recognition of the role and benefits of co-operatives in Canadian communities and globally. There are 9,000 co-operatives and credit unions in Canada, providing products and services to 18 million members, employing more than 150,000 people and controlling assets of more than $300 billion.

For more information about The Co-operators and its sustainability journey, please visit www.cooperators.ca, and watch for the organization's 2012 sustainability report, to be published on the website May 9. To view the ranking, visit www.corporateknights.com.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $35 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 and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE: The Co-operators