Fresh Del Monte Produce Releases 2023 Sustainability Report; Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh and Hans Sauter Comment


Fri. October 18th, 2024 - by Peggy Packer

CORAL GABLES, FL - Join us as we venture into an exploration of the impressive progress Fresh Del Monte Produce has made through its strategic sustainability efforts. The global producer, marketer, and distributor has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, announcing its achievement of SBTi-approved Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal well before the 2030 target.

Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Fresh Del Monte Produce

“With the release of our 2023 Sustainability Report, we are reminded of the immense responsibility we carry as stewards of the environment,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “As an agricultural leader, we recognize our profound influence on shaping our planet’s future. By embracing our role and working in harmony with nature, we believe we can unlock its full potential, laying the groundwork for a sustainable future that benefits all. This is the focus of our efforts—innovating with purpose, collaborating with partners, and creating a lasting legacy of sustainability that will protect and preserve our natural world for generations to come.”

Demonstrating progress toward the company’s long-term environmental and social goals, Fresh Del Monte’s 2023 Sustainability Report highlighted achievements across a variety of categories. This includes:

  • Climate: The supplier achieved a 28 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, surpassing its SBTi target by 2023, well ahead of its 2030 goal timeline
  • Biodiversity: Completion of ecosystem mapping in Guatemala and Costa Rica, with plans to expand to other farms in 2024. The company has also planted 2,487,847 trees since 2016, reaching 99.5 percent of its goal to plant 2.5 million trees by 2025
  • Diversity: 69 percent of U.S. employees are from diverse backgrounds, underscoring the company's commitment to inclusion
  • Health and Community: Fresh Del Monte delivered healthy, nutritious produce to millions while providing health services to hundreds of local workers and communities in growing regions
  • Packaging: Reusable plastic containers (RPCs) were introduced for banana shipments in North America, obviating the use of 758 tons of single-use paper and more than 5 tons of plastic
The global producer, marketer, and distributor has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, announcing its achievement of SBTi-approved Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal well before the 2030 target

In addition to these achievements, Fresh Del Monte continues to lead with innovative practices in regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and waste revalorization, the press release explained.

Hans Sauter, Chief Sustainability Officer, Fresh Del Monte Produce

“I am proud of our team for leading by example—large-scale farmers like us need to start showing scalable transformations,” said Hans Sauter, Chief Sustainability Officer, Senior Vice President, R&D and Agricultural Services at Fresh Del Monte. “Addressing a warming climate is no longer optional, but an urgent task. Fresh Del Monte remains dedicated to its mission of taking proactive action and working towards a Brighter World Tomorrow®. Sustainability only continues to gain traction throughout our company, and I am thrilled to see both our progress and the work that lies ahead of us.”

To dig further into the recently released report, click here.

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