Fresh Del Monte notes sustainability gains in new report

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. says it is reaffirming its commitment to conserving the planet as it releases its 2022 Sustainability Report.

"As a global agribusiness, sustainability is ingrained in our identity, and we recognize the urgency of action needed to continue fortifying our operations against the changing climate,” Hans Sauter, chief sustainability officer and senior vice president for R&D and agricultural services at Fresh Del Monte, said in a news release. “Our unwavering commitment propels us to continually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize water usage, combat food waste, and curtail plastic consumption, among other critical endeavors that have a direct impact on our planet.

"We firmly believe that we can instigate transformative change and drive the adoption of innovative technologies for a more sustainable future," Sauter continued. "This ongoing journey necessitates investments and partnerships, recognizing that the most substantial impact occurs when we collaborate.”

One of the biggest milestones achieved by the company was the launch of its new line extension, the Del Monte Zero pineapple, a carbon-neutral pineapple that offsets carbon emissions from farm to market as certified by SCS Global Services, the release said. SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, according to the release.

After a comprehensive assessment of Fresh Del Monte’s Costa Rica pineapple production through shipment and sale to the North American and European markets, SCS Global Services determined that the pineapples’ greenhouse gas emissions have been negated by the reabsorption of Fresh Del Monte-owned forests, making the carbon footprint for Del Monte Zero pineapples net zero, the release said. 

The certification is the result of a long-standing program of carefully curated farms that incorporate conservation and reforestation areas to sequester carbon dioxide in situ, a nature-based solution called insetting, the release said. The company’s nearly 20,000 acre forest containing approximately 5 million trees neutralizes emissions — from farm to market— produced by the Del Monte Zero pineapple, the release said.

Fresh Del Monte says a trained group of team members tracks and measures the company’s forests biannually to ensure the number of certified carbon-neutral pineapple boxes equates to the carbon dioxide sequestered through such conservation activities.

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Fresh Del Monte says its dedication to customer satisfaction and sustainability was further underscored with the debut of the mini Honeyglow pineapple last year. The product was developed based on consumer preferences for conveniently sized pineapples and aligns with the company's goals to reduce waste and meet customer needs, the release said.

Fresh Del Monte diverted 93% of food waste from landfills in 2022, according to the release. Taking a proactive stance, the company became the first grower to join the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment in 2022 and pledged to reduce food waste across its operations to serve as a model for other suppliers and growers, the release said. 

Fresh Del Monte says it achieved a 26% decrease in its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions in 2022, largely attributed to optimizing fertilizer usage, fuel consumption and facility heating adjustments. This progress puts Fresh Del Monte at a 94% completion rate toward its Science Based Targets initiative-approved scope 1 and scope 2 emissions reduction goal of 27.5% compared with a 2020 base year, the company said.

Additionally, the company planted 574,800 trees, and 29.7% of its owned farms now implement regenerative agriculture farming practices, according to the release.

Using renewable energy sources is an essential part of Fresh Del Monte’s conservation focus, with 21% of its global electricity consumption coming from renewable sources last year, according to the release. Since the installation of solar panels at its Costa Rica banana operation in 2017, monthly kilowatt-hour usage has been reduced by 46%, the release said.

In the spotlight

Fresh Del Monte's sustainability efforts have earned the company recognitions and accolades, according to the release:

• For two consecutive years in a row, the company was ranked 14th in the Food and Beverage category among U.S.-based companies with revenues exceeding $500 million on Newsweek's America's Most Trusted Companies of 2023 list.
• It was named a Humankind 100 company by Humankind Investments, ranking 59th out of 100 for positively impacting communities through initiatives such as providing access to clean water, food, and health care.
• Fresh Del Monte’s dedication to conservation has earned it recognition by UNESCO for its work at the Quirigüá Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Guatemala.

Related link: Fresh Del Monte's 2022 Sustainability Report