Suppliers in U.S., Canada join massive retail sustainability plan
More than a dozen companies that supply produce in the U.S. have joined the 10x20x30 initiative, in which a group of 10-plus retailers have at least 20 suppliers who pledge to cut foot loss and waste in half by 2030.
Nearly 200 suppliers across the globe have joined the initiative, along with food retailers Aeon (Japan), Ahold Delhaize, Carrefour, Ikea Food, Kroger Co., Metro AG (Germany), Migros (Turkey), Pick n Pay (South Africa), The Savola Group (Saudi Arabia), Sodexo, Tesco and Walmart.
The companies operate in 80 countries and among them are six of the largest food retailers in the world, according to a news release.
Produce companies that have joined the initiative include:
- Bonduelle Fresh America’s (Ready Pac Foods)
- Calavo Growers Inc.
- Dayka and Hackett
- Dole Chile S.A.
- Driscoll's
- Fresh Del Monte Produce
- Grimmway Farms
- Lakeside Produce
- Nature Fresh Farm
- Procacci Brothers Sales Corp.
- Schoenmann Produce
- Taylor Farms
- The Wonderful Co
- Total Produce
- Village Farms
These companies have committed to reduce waste by half, measuring and publishing food loss and waste inventories, according to the release.
The process is called “Target-Measure-Act” and is pioneered by Champions 12.3, a coalition of executives from business, government and civil society whose aim is to cut food loss and waste by 50% worldwide by 2030, which is the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3.
“Cutting food loss and waste in half – from farm to fork – by 2030 will require ambitious, collective action,” Jane Ewing, senior vice president of sustainability for Walmart Inc., said in the release. “The 10x20x30 initiative is accelerating progress by aligning and training stakeholders across the industry on how to dramatically reduce food waste.”
The 10x20x30 initative was introduced at the 2019 annual food loss and waste summit hosted by Champions 12.3.
Bonduelle Fresh Americas, which sells fresh-cut and salad products under the Ready Pac Foods plans to reduce food waste created by its facilities, increase donations to food banks and divert unusable produce to animal food manufacturers, according to a news release.
"We are driven by the belief that 'Nature is our Future,' and we are determined to continually evolve our business model to build a better company for the world," Bonduelle Fresh Americas CEO Mary Thomson said in the release.
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