Over 25 years ago we had a vision that involved everyone having access to environmentally friendly food. In 1993, in partnership with Bio Suisse, we launched the organic own-label brand Naturaplan.
With 4 800 products – 2 800 of which are Naturaplan products – we offer the biggest range of organic products in Swiss retail. Also unique is the fact that virtually the entire Naturaplan range and the majority of other organic products display the Bio Suisse bud. Due to high demand, the number of Swiss organic farmers has more than quintupled since 1993. Today, the number stands at 7 450. Over 16 percent of Switzerland's agricultural land is organically farmed – and this percentage continues to rise.
Through Naturaplan, we offer a large range of regional organic products. In German and French-speaking Switzerland, for example, we stock organic milk from the respective regions. Furthermore, products and raw materials from the south are also fairly traded and are Fairtrade Max Havelaar-certified wherever possible.
The benefits of Naturaplan have also been confirmed by independent bodies. In a rating of food labels by the WWF and other environmental organizations, Naturaplan was awarded the highest score and attained the highest grade «Excellent».
Virtually all Naturaplan organic products have borne the Bio Suisse quality seal, the bud, right from the beginning. The bud guidelines go far beyond the legal requirements for organic products. Thus, along with Demeter, Naturaplan has the most stringent requirements of all organic brands in Switzerland.
The road to the finished organic product on the shelf is a long one. Often, it entails a lot of research work along the entire value chain. In 1992, we began promoting the development of organic apple-growing together with the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL) – with tremendous success: in the space of ten years, numerous fruit growers switched to organic methods. Today, we are able to offer our customers a wide range of high-quality and flavoursome organic apples.
We have provided the FiBL with financial assistance since 1994. In total, we invest at least CHF 1 million a year in the FiBL's basic research in the field of organic agriculture and thus continue to promote the development of organic agriculture. The aim of the numerous projects is to further develop organic agriculture through basic research and to support the development of organic products for Coop. The FiBL is one of the world's leading research establishments in the field of organic agriculture.