Green graphic design business named ‘Co-operative of the month’

Southampton-based graphic design company, Total Coverage, has been named
‘Co-operative of the month’, after completing an initiative to become greener and reduce their carbon footprint.

The business, established in 1988, which specialises in delivering engaging communications including marketing literature, corporate publications, display graphics and websites, received the award in recognition for completing the Greener Together – the co-operative way project.

A total of 49 members of the creative co-operative got involved and over the course of the project, managed to reduce 26 tonnes of CO2 emissions in areas such as energy and transport and also saved nearly a tonne of waste being deposited at landfill sites.

Linda Bratcher, Sales and Marketing Director at Total Coverage, said: “We are delighted to be named ‘Co-operative of the month’ for completing the Greener Together challenge. As a co-operative, we have a very ethical and environmental ethos at our heart and we had been looking at ways in which we could do our bit for the planet, and so joining up to the Greener Together project was ideal for us.

“We have been very committed to the project from day one and being named ‘Co-operative of the month’ is just the icing on the cake.”

Greener Together – the co-operative way, is a major project run by Co-operatives UK, the national trade body for co operative enterprises, which encourages and supports individuals to overcome the barriers of lifestyle change and live in a more sustainable way. The project helps co-operatives make a significant impact on climate change, and reduce their environmental impact in the three key areas of energy, waste and personal transport. To date, thanks to Greener Together, 19 tonnes of waste has been saved from being deposited at landfill and over 460 tonnes of CO2 has been reduced in energy and transport.

Total Coverage will now look forward to joining other co-operatives across the country to celebrate their participation in the project, during the first ever National Campaign to celebrate Greener Together, during Greener Together Week (21 to 27 March 2011).

Part of the Greener Living Fund, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the project aims to help people to live in a more sustainable way, by focusing on the small actions every individual can take in their daily lives and enables member organisations of Co-operatives UK, the Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH) and the Plunkett Foundation to work with their members and customers in achieving greener behaviour