Introduction

Coop Estonia (hereinafter Coop) prioritises daily observance of our core values and exemplary business principles. The purpose of the Good Business Practice is to consolidate and describe the key principles which the employees and cooperation partners of Coop are obliged to observe in their activities.

This Good Business Practice has been approved by the Management Board of Coop and forms an integral part of Coop’s business culture.

Coop expects its employees and cooperation partners to conduct themselves in an honest, ethical, and law-abiding manner and adhere to this Good Business Practice in all circumstances.

1. Confidentiality of personal data

Protecting privacy is important for us. In processing of personal data, we always comply with the data protection legislation and ensure the protection of personal data through organisational, physical, and information technology security measures. We process personal data exclusively for predetermined purposes and observe the principle of minimum processing. All necessary measures for protection of personal data are applied. We monitor and check the processing of personal data and train our employees.

2. Protection of business secrets

We ensure the protection of Coop’s business secrets and handle them in an appropriate manner. Business secrets may include, among others, plans concerning Coop’s business operation, data concerning goods and services, and information related to customers and contracts. We only communicate business secrets if we have the right to do so.

We protect our partners’ business secrets entrusted to us equally with those of Coop and ensure compliance with all confidentiality requirements.

3. Independence of procurement and prevention of conflict of interest

We act in a responsible manner, avoiding situations where personal interests would be in direct or indirect conflict with Coop’s interests. We immediately inform the competent persons at Coop of such situations where a conflict of interest has arisen or is likely to arise.

Independence from suppliers is an important factor in Coop’s procurements. We treat all suppliers and supplier candidates equally. In tendering procedures, we make our selections impartially and based on criteria announced in advance.

4. Corruption, bribery and other inappropriate payments and benefits

Any accepting or offering of bribes, as well as other inappropriate payments and business interests, are illegal and prohibited.

Coop has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in all its forms, including bribery, fraud, or any other prohibited business practices, and pursues this approach in all its activities.

Giving or accepting of gifts and hosting shall comply with the current legislation and the more specific internal regulations concerning these matters. Every effort shall be made to prevent situations where this could be interpreted as an illegal or inappropriate activity.

We strongly oppose money laundering in all its forms and participate in prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism to the best of our ability. 
Coop also expects its cooperation partners to combat any corruption, blackmail and bribery, and money laundering, to apply high ethical standards and to observe good business practices.

5. Environment

We are environmentally sustainable in our operation and are guided by the aim of avoiding harm to the environment. We prioritise and support recycling and sustainable consumption habits. Coop pursues ambitious sustainability efforts with the aim to reduce its climate impact, carbon footprint, and quantity of waste (in particular plastic and food waste) and to develop efficient reuse and recycling systems, expecting its cooperation partners to do the same. We choose modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly technologies and expect our cooperation partners to consistently do the same. The minimum requirement is compliance with the current environmental legislation.

6. The European Union (EU) Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EU) 2023/1115

The EU regulation on deforestation will enter into force on 30 December 2025. Coop requires that all its suppliers shall comply with the EU deforestation regulation and submit necessary information to Coop (e.g. geographical coordinates and accurate information on the due diligence process related to the relevant goods) in order to enable us to comply with the law.

7. Compliance with legal requirements and fair competition

We comply with all current legislation in our operation, as well as the customs and practices applied in the relevant field of activity.

We follow the principles of fair competition. We always act in compliance with the rules on competition and abstain from entering into any illegal agreements or resorting to any concerted practice in a manner distorting fair competition.

8. Social responsibility and human rights

We treat everyone equally and respect the internationally recognised human rights. No group or individual shall be discriminated against for any reason, including sex, age, race, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, political views, membership in an association, or religious beliefs.

We fully support our employees’ personal and professional development by ensuring compliance of the working conditions with the local legislation and providing a safe and healthy working environment.

9. Reporting and intervention

It is up to everyone individually to observe and support the principles of good business practice.

All employees of Coop shall immediately report any suspected or witnessed activity contrary to the general policy of Coop.

Employees of Coop can ask for advice or discuss violations of Coop’s policy with their manager, the HR department, the company’s security officers, the legal officer of the company, or the internal control unit.

Employees, partners and stakeholders of Coop can also report violations of Coop’s general policy via an anonymous channel for reporting violations on https://www.coop.ee/rikkumisest-teavitamine. All reports are taken seriously and processed in accordance with Coop’s current processes and in a confidential manner. Relevant measures are applied in response to any policy violation.

10. Enforcement

All employees of Coop undertake to familiarise themselves with the principles of good business  practice and observe them in their daily activities.
Employees of Coop involved in cooperation on behalf of Coop are responsible for exclusively collaborating with cooperation partners who acknowledge these principles.

The good business practice is published on the website of Coop www.coop.ee, signed as an annex to contracts as general terms, and is binding on all cooperation partners of Coop. 

The cooperation partners of Coop shall ensure that their activities comply with these principles and that their personnel have been informed of the rights and obligations related to these principles.

Failure to comply with the principles set out in this Good Business Practice may be deemed a significant breach of contract by the cooperation partner in question.