Leading Dutch fresh produce marketing group The Greenery has published its new sustainability report, a look back on its operations in this field last year, with the company describing 2011 as a year of 'many positive results.
Examples of advancements made in the past year included The Greenery receiving a Lean & Green award, new growers picking up the Nature Counts designation, the continued development of its Fresh Harvest website and the group's ongoing work with international crop protection manufacturers as part of several Food Chain Partnership projects.
'Sustainability has become an indispensible part of the sector, and will continue to play an increasingly important role in the future,' said Philip Smits, general manager at The Greenery. 'The Greenery is responding to this development with a range of initiatives in the field of sustainability.'
Focus areas of the group's sustainability policy are categorised under the heading 'healthy cultivation', 'healthy innovation', 'healthy communication' and 'healthy business operations', of which 'healthy employees' also plays an important role, the group noted.
In the report, The Greenery highlighted the fact that it had achieved seventh place in the food and drink section of the 2011 Transparency Benchmark, the only fresh produce organisation achieving such a ranking.
Looking ahead, the group said that it will be reviewing its sustainability policy this year to formulate a plan for the year 2020, including a set of targets The Greenery aims to reach in the coming years.
'We have decided to set up channels of communication with various organisations in order to maintain a clear idea of relevant sustainability issues and developments, and to pave the way for a proactive response,' Smits added.
The full sustainability report can be seen here
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