Del Monte announces progress towards long-term sustainability goals

Fresh Del Monte Produce has released its 2020 Sustainability Report, which it has said represents “a bold step” in expanding its sustainability efforts. The report outlines the role Del Monte is playing to reduce the widespread, rapid, and intensifying effects of climate change.

The report covers the company’s commitment to ongoing environmental protection, providing healthy choices for consumers, and empowering the health and well-being of its team members and communities. It also includes a list of its ambitious 2030 goals toward creating ‘A Brighter World Tomorrow’.

Hans Sauter, chief sustainability officer and senior vice president of R&D at Fresh Del Monte, said: “We are very proud of the steps we’ve taken, and are taking to create a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system. However, what brings me the most joy is that our programmes are truly born out of passion, starting at the ground level, literally and figuratively, with every team member taking an active role in advancing our efforts. Without our team members, we wouldn’t stand a chance. This Sustainability Report is the mosaic of all the contributions our team members around the globe are living every single day.”

This year, the company has set more ambitious goals for 2030, such as implementing regenerative and soil health management practices in 100% of owned and associate grower’s farms, reducing food loss and organic waste sent to landfill by 50%, and reducing virgin plastic usage by 25% on purchased consumer packaging compared with its 2020 baseline.