COOP Identity

NEW COOP Identity

Proud to be a co-operator? You can help make the COOP Identity one of the best known ethical marques in the world by 2020. There are 109 countries already using it!

In the wake of the global financial crisis, producers, workers, and consumers are paying more attention to their economic decisions – looking for ethical places to work, sell, and buy goods and services. The co-operative business model allows people and communities to meet their needs and aspirations, offering a unique answer to contemporary problems.

The global Co-operative Marque and a .coop domain are symbols of the co-operative sector; they are modern branding tools which are only available for co-operatives to use.  And as their use increases on websites, emails, publications, products, packaging, promotions etc. more people will become aware of what they are choosing when faced with the option between a product or service from a co-operative or an investor or privately-owned business.

COOP Identity forms a key pillar of the Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade which seeks to increase visibility of the co-operative model.  In November 2013, the International Co-operative Alliance launched a new logo for all co-operatives to use.  Known as the global Co-operative Marque this new badge for co-ops was the first significant change in the visual identity of the co-operative movement in almost 100 years.

COOP Identity – Our unique namespace

With 3 billion people now online, it is more important than ever to differentiate a co-operative business. A .coop domain is a marketing investment and unlike a .com domain .coop is a restricted domain that only co-operatives can use.  A .coop domain tells your members, customers and community that you are a co-operative 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

The co-operative movement is still to take full advantage of its unique namespace in the global online marketplace; having first appeared on the internet in 2002 and despite an estimated 2.6m co-operatives globally there are only 8000 .coop names registered, compare this to 120m .com, 15m .net and 10m .org domains in existence. As a result, there are still many great .coop domains available making it easy to choose a name that’s memorable, unique, relevant and short.

The ethical badge just for co-ops

The Co-operative Marque is the free ethical badge that is designed just for co-ops and it is intended to use alongside your existing brand.  It is not a replacement for your organisation’s own logo.  The Marque, slogan, and key messages are available in seven colours and are supported by a set of stunning signature images.  The Marque demonstrates that you are part of a global movement and support co-operation around the world.

Together a .coop domain name and the global Co-operative Marque are symbols of the co-operative movement and of their collective identity; demonstrating their unity of purpose.   Use the Marque and your .coop domain and join thousands of similar organisations around the world giving greater visibility to your co-operative and strengthening our distinct model of enterprise.

The aim set by the International Co-operative Alliance is for the COOP Identity to become one of the best known ethical marques in the world by 2020. By January 2016 there were co-operatives in 109 countries using either a .coop domain and/or the Co-operative Marque.

Apply to use the free Co-operative Marque and register a .coop domain by visiting the multi-lingual website www.identity.coop.  The domain is free for the first year if you have not had one before and the Marque is free.  We also have a Toolkit which has downloadable elements to help you promote your COOP Identity this includes a poster, animated video, video tutorials, editorial, buttons for websites and newsletters and a range of banners.  Download the Toolkit here.

See the Marque Guidelines here.