Oppy has released an update to its 2023 sustainability report. The British Columbia-based grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce said its inaugural report focused on five ongoing focus areas — greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, food waste, water use, packaging materials and its impact on people and communities.
This year the company said its report highlights more tactical initiatives with a global impact and that it will now address challenges in the supply chain.
“When I began leading Oppy’s sustainability efforts, I knew we were already doing impactful work,” Garland Perkins, director of innovation and sustainability with Oppy, said in a news release. “Now, with the second report, we are excited to demonstrate the legitimacy and depth of our progress. Our approach to sustainability reflects our commitment to ‘doing the right thing’ for the environment and our people while aligning with the business’ needs and realities.”
In this year’s iteration, the company highlighted its SmartWay certification, a voluntary public-private program that measures and documents fuel use and freight emissions throughout the supply chain.
Oppy said it also generated 59% of its electricity to power offices and warehouses — about 119,062 kilowatt hours — from renewable resources. The company said this move helped avoid creating 162 metric tons of carbon emissions.
The company also partnered to upcycle food waste and recyclable materials, which reduced 74 and 430 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, respectively.
The company said another one of its sustainability efforts in the past year included the introduction of its Earth Sack, a biodegradable and compostable avocado bag.
Oppy said its Fair Trade-certified bell peppers generated $1,574,965 in funds for farmworkers from 26 million pounds of the company’s 34.9 million pounds of certified produce sold last year.
It says organic sales increased from 2018 to 2023 by 130%.
And, it saw an 800% increase in employee paid volunteer time off at food banks and food-security-related work, environmental support programs such as tree planting, and children’s education initiatives.
“As an industry, we are all in this together,” David Smith, president and chief operating officer, said in the release. “While Oppy’s global presence and unique role in the supply chain has the potential for staggering impact — when it comes to sustainability, we believe in collaboration over competition. Which is why we are committed to working with partners, stakeholders and competitors to create a sustainable tomorrow for all and drive meaningful change.”
