Making 'coop' part of your own logo.

Sections 1.0 to 6.0 of this guide show how to use the Co-operative Marque to identify your co-operative as part of a global movement, by using it as an 'alignment' device next to your own logo or other symbol of accreditation.

In addition to using the co-operative Marque as an alignment device, an organisation may wish to use the 'coop' symbol as part of its own logo or badge. We call this 'full adoption' of the Marque. The first organisation to fully adopt the Marque was the International Co-operative Alliance.

A full adoption of the Marque may require more design flexibility than is provided for in sections 2.0 to 6.0 of this guide - for instance, in the choice of accompanying font, or the size of the exclusion zone. Principles of good design and respect for the Marque still apply:

• The 'coop' symbol should not be decorated, stretched or otherwise altered
• It should appear in one of the seven Marque signature colours
• It should not be decorated or contained in a box or other shape
• It should not be used as if it were a segment of a longer word

It is the Alliance's responsibility to maintain the integrity and quality of the Marque, and to protect its use. In addition to fulfilling the basic criteria for alignment, an organisation wishing to fully adopt should submit a request and design to the International Co-operative Alliance for advice and approval.

There is a two-stage process for organisations wishing to 'fully adopt' the Marque:

• Applying for permission in principle
• Submitting your design for approval. We suggest that you engage with the registrar at an early stage in the design process.

The registrar's contact details are contained in the final section of this guide.