Copefrut releases second Sustainability Report

Copefrut has presented its second Sustainability Report setting out its economic, social, and environmental performance during the 2022/23 season, with the aim of promoting more sustainable, collaborative, and efficient agriculture.

“In a world that demands profound and urgent changes, being sustainable is not just a goal to achieve but a new paradigm that guides each of our actions and decisions, marking the path to the future. This is why two years ago, we committed to Sustainability through a comprehensive policy present in all our actions, from the daily tasks we perform to strategic decision-making,” said José Luis Soler, the chairman of the board.

Among its achievements are the certification of its organic apples as the first carbon-neutral fruit in South America, thanks to mitigating the carbon footprint in the production, processing, and transportation of the product to the US and Europe through the purchase of carbon offset credits for greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the company reinforced its Energy Management System, reducing the impact of operations on energy consumption.

General manager Andrés Fuenzalida commented: “at Copefrut, we continue to encourage production that respects ecosystems, both in our facilities and in the orchards, by introducing sustainable and innovative practices that ensure the quality of our products and the efficiency of our work”.

The report highlights the results obtained in three areas – social, environmental, and economic – during the 2022/23 season.

During that season, Copefrut exported nearly 71,000 tonnes of fruit to more than 40 countries across five continents, further consolidating its commercial platform in Asia, one of its main clients. The company exports five types of produce, collaborating with over 210 local producers and employing a workforce of 279 people, along with more than two thousand seasonal workers.

Alba Llavona, Hhead of sustainability at Copefrut, said the results reflect the company’s “continuous relationship with local producers, progress towards operational excellence, and strong commercial performance, which have enabled the company to achieve positive numbers despite a global scenario marked by international conflicts, climate change, and social crises”.

“We continue to maintain our competitiveness. We have successfully faced the challenges of the geopolitical and economic global context, thanks to efficient operations and robust financial management. This economic growth is essential for generating wealth and ensuring our sustainability, in line with our internal policies and the growing demands of consumers worldwide,” she said.

In terms of social performance, Copefruit said notable advances were also made in inclusion and gender equality, thanks to the implementation of its Inclusion and Diversity Policy. This policy aims to ensure equal opportunities by incorporating an inclusive vision in every process, oriented towards advancing in non-discrimination matters, whether by gender, age, nationality, or any physical, social, or cultural condition.

Another of the company’s major milestones during this season was increasing the processing capacity at the Cenlinares facility through the installation of a new 28-lane cherry line, allowing them to process over 6,000 tonnes of this fruit per season.