The report highlights sustainability milestones, including an early achievement of SBTi-approved targets for Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas reductions
Fresh Del Monte Produce has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, highlighting what it called ”key progress toward a more sustainable future”.
As part of the report, Del Monte confirmed it had achieved its SBTi-approved Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal well before the 2030 target.
“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’,” he noted. ”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.”
Key achievements highlighted in the report included Del Monte achieving a 28 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, surpassing its SBTi target by 2023, well ahead of its 2030 goal timeline.
The company set goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 27.5 per cent, using a 2019 baseline, and Scope 3 emissions by 12.3 per cent, based on a 2020 baseline, by 2030.
It also exceeded its goal of reducing Scope 1 CO2 emissions from vessel shipping by 10 per cent by 2025, reaching a 19 per cent reduction in 2024.
In biodiversity, Del Monte completed ecosystem mapping in Guatemala and Costa Rica, with plans to expand to other farms in 2024.
Additionally, the company has planted 2,487,847 trees since 2016, reaching 99.5 per cent of its goal to plant 2.5mn trees by 2025, it said.
Meanwhile, Del Monte introduced reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for banana shipments in North America, obviating the use of 758 tonnes of single-use paper and more than 5 tonnes of plastic.
In addition to these Del Monte said it continued to lead with innovative practices in regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and waste revalorisation.
As part of its commitment to extract more value from its biomass and reduce waste, the company extended its partnership with the University of Granada to explore bioactive compounds from fruit residues, contributing to advancements in health and well-being.
Earlier this year, the company also inaugurated a biofertiliser plant in Kenya, in partnership with Vellsam Materias Bioactivas, using pineapple residues to produce biofertilisers.
“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 CEO.
“As an agricultural leader, we recognise 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,” he continued.
”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.”
