Sustainability is so deeply ingrained in the co-op business model that we often fail to take credit for our actions. It’s easy to assume that shoppers “just know” that we value sustainability and that we act on those values in tangible and inspiring ways. However, many of our actions aren’t necessarily readily apparent.
Given the popularity of “sustainability” as a marketing tactic, it’s more important than ever that co-ops communicate the many ways we are positively impacting our communities. Food co-ops have long been leaders in sustainability, an area that strongly reinforces co-op points of difference — great food, community, support for local, and health and nutrition. Over the past several years, other retailers have found sustainability initiatives to be good business strategies for saving costs and building consumer loyalty.
NCG’s shared sustainability program, Co+efficient, is designed to help co-ops measure, analyze and improve the triple bottom line — their social, environmental and local economic impacts. The next step is to promote these positive impacts. To help your co-op tell this story effectively, NCG has developed a sustainability impact report and companion infographic templates.
The Sustainability Impact Report template library includes InDesign files for modular tiles to create a printed 16-page booklet and social media infographics formatted for a variety of channels. These templates provide the structure and themes for you to populate with your own photographs and Co+efficient data to highlight key areas:
- Triple bottom line
- Employee metrics and workplace attributes
- Benefits of ownership
- Improved access to healthy food for all
- Information, education and outreach
- Support for local producers and the local economy
- Minimizing negative environmental impact
- Growing the co-op economy
The metrics you choose to report can be tailored to your co-op, and there are countless ways to highlight accomplishments using the impact templates. The booklet format is designed to help you create a comprehensive annual report to owners. Social media templates make it easy to bring awareness to your sustainability efforts on an ongoing basis or to promote a special event like Earth Day. You can also repurpose these images for your co-op’s quarterly newsletter or website.
By effectively sharing the message about positive impacts — the things that make people proud of their co-op! — you can further leverage your co-op’s strengths to deepen owner loyalty, get the mid-level shopper’s attention, remain leaders in sustainable business and enhance your brand.
