GUELPH, ON, May 5 /CNW/ - The Co-operators today released its seventh annual sustainability report, entitled Measuring Our Impact. The document outlines the organization's progress in 2010 in achieving its economic, social and environmental objectives, and also provides an overview of its new sustainability strategy for the next four years.

Last year saw The Co-operators working with others to find broader solutions, while continuing to incorporate sustainability principles into its own operations. The organization's sustainability efforts were recently recognized by being included for the second year in a row among The Green 30, a list of environmentally-responsible employers, announced in Maclean's on April 28. The Co-operators is also ranked second among 50 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Knights.

The Co-operators continued its work in 2010 to strengthen communities across Canada. A total of $5.7 million was contributed to worthy causes, including corporate funding as well as staff and agent donations and volunteerism.

"Across the country, staff members are thinking in terms of sustainability, and coming up with innovative solutions not just for our organization, but for our clients and the broader community," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "With such passionate support for our sustainability efforts from staff and agents across the country, we have every reason to believe we'll continue to make progress in the years ahead."

The Co-operators met its 3-year target of reducing its carbon footprint by 10 per cent through measures including office energy retrofits, switching to more fuel efficient vehicles for its corporate fleet and reducing paper usage.

The organization's 2011-2014 sustainability strategy focuses on leveraging the combined efforts of The Co-operators and its stakeholders. Building on the success of its first such strategy and recognizing that today's sustainability challenges require collaboration among business, government and non-government organizations, The Co-operators plans to be part of the broader solution in creating a more sustainable world.

For more information, and to read the report in its entirety, please visit www.cooperators.ca.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $42 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 #2 among the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights and listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.