Co-op has pledged to double down on its social commitments, following a major survey of more than 37,000 members which highlighted growing concern over inequality and division in UK communities.

The convenience giant has launched a new long-term strategy focused on three areas: access to opportunity, access to a sustainable future, and access to peace of mind and wellbeing.

The plan includes action on net zero, routes into work, community cohesion, and human rights, which Co-op said are all shaped by its 6.5 million members.

The move comes as a response to Co-op launching a survey which found just one in five members feel optimistic about the country’s future, with cost of living, healthcare, climate change and social mobility named among the top areas of concern.

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Co-op group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq said: “We’re living in a world where powerful voices are actively encouraging businesses to row back on their social value commitments. In the pursuit of short-term profit opportunities, some other businesses are choosing to scale back or water down their social value work, shutting the door on progress for the future.

“As a co-operative, owned by our members, we’re choosing to step further forwards, choosing to speak up and speak out, to be a voice for positive change when it matters most.

Khoury-Haq added that the new strategy was “grounded in what our members told us – to focus on opportunity, sustainability and community cohesion”.

“As a member-owned business, we’re here to act. Whether it’s helping young people into work, backing grassroots projects, or tackling root causes of harm like cybercrime, this is about long-term impact. It will shape how we grow, how we lead, and how we deliver value for our members every day.”

The new strategy follows Co-op taking a recently taking a public stance on humanitarian issues, including joining more than 150 UK food and drink businesses urging the government to take urgent action to end the starvation crisis in Gaza, accusing the UK of not doing enough to stop a “man-made famine”.

In June, the Co-op also confirmed it will stop selling products from countries, such as Israel, identified as committing community-wide human rights abuses or violating international law, following a full board review.