Sustainability and Accountability in Agricultural Cooperatives: The Case of ZAGORIN through the GRI Lens

This research explores the Agricultural Cooperative of Zagora (ZAGORIN), considered as one of the most sustainable and resilient agricultural cooperatives in Greece. It seeks to evaluate the perception and implementation of sustainability inside the cooperative, as perceived by its active members, under the framework of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. The research employed a qualitative approach, through in-depth interviews with 15 cooperative members to investigate sustainable practices across the three equally weighted pillars of the GRI framework: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). The aim is to assess the members' perceptions of the cooperative's actual sustainability initiatives and to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats using a systematic GRI-based SWOT analysis. The results demonstrate a strong relationship between the cooperative's activities and sustainability principles, especially in governance and social responsibility; yet, there remain opportunities for enhancement in environmental practices and formal sustainability reporting. The results provide significant insights into member-driven evaluations of sustainability and emphasize the necessity of implementing standardized reporting systems. This study enhances the dialogue on cooperative sustainability within the agrifood industry and offers a framework for other cooperatives seeking to better align with global sustainability standards.