Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World

On Saturday, 5 July 2025, communities around the world are coming together to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) under the inspiring theme: “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World.” This year’s event is especially significant, taking place during the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025)—a rare, once-in-a-decade moment to spotlight the vital role of cooperatives in creating fairer, more resilient societies.

In a time of growing global challenges, this year’s theme speaks volumes. Cooperatives—businesses owned and run by and for their members—are showing how it's possible to build strong communities by putting people, planet, and purpose before profit. From health and housing to agriculture, finance, and clean energy, co-ops are delivering real-world solutions that are inclusive, democratic, and sustainable.

CoopsDay 2025 also connects with two major global efforts: the UN’s High-Level Political Forum, which is reviewing key Sustainable Development Goals, and the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development. These milestones remind us that cooperatives are not just local solutions—they’re part of a global movement for change.

Join us in celebrating CoopsDay 2025, and help raise awareness of how cooperatives are driving progress for a better world.

Objectives of this year's observance

• Raise Public Awareness:  Highlight the contributions of cooperatives to sustainable development.  
• Promote Growth and Development: Strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and establishments for cooperatives.  
• Advocate for Supportive Frameworks: Encourage the creation of enabling legal and policy environments for cooperatives globally.  
• Inspire Leadership: Foster purposeful leadership and engage youth in the cooperative movement.

Brief History

The earliest record of a co-operative comes from Scotland in March 14 1761. In 1844 a group of 28 artisans working in the cotton mills in north of England established the first modern co-operative business.

History of the cooperatives movement

Background

The Co-operatives Movement

Co-operatives have been acknowledged as associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural and political advancement of their community and nation. The co-operative movement has been also recognized as a distinct and major stakeholder in both national and international affairs.

Co-operatives' open membership model affords access to wealth creation and poverty elimination. This results from the co-operative principle of members' economic participation: 'Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.' Because co-operatives are people-centred, not capital-centred , they do not perpetuate, nor accelerate capital concentration and they distribute wealth in a more fair way.

Co-operatives also foster external equality. As they are community-based, they are committed to the sustainable development of their communities - environmentally, socially and economically. This commitment can be seen in their support for community activities, local sourcing of supplies to benefit the local economy, and in decision-making that considers the impact on their communities.

Despite their local community focus, co-operatives also aspire to bring the benefits of their economic and social model to all people in the world. Globalization should be governed by a set of values such as those of the co-operative movement; otherwise, it creates more inequality and excesses that render it unsustainable.

The cooperative movement is highly democratic, locally autonomous, but internationally integrated, and a form of organization of associations and enterprises whereby citizens themselves rely on self-help and their own responsibility to meet goals that include not only economic, but also social and environmental objectives, such as overcoming poverty, securing productive employment and encouraging social integration.