Report includes Sustainability Charter, a set of principles and strategic outcomes to guide industry in sustainability monitoring and reporting
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), in partnership with the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) and the Global Coalition of Fresh Produce, has released a final report from the International Sustainability Summit hosted on 26 April in Vancouver.
The one-day event, which attracted over 100 participants, brought together fresh produce leaders from across the world to discuss leading sustainability challenges, barriers and opportunities for the fresh produce industry.
The summit’s final report provides key takeaways from the day’s speakers, as well as from the breakout sessions identifying the environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, activities, risks and actions associated with promoting an increased level of harmonisation across the global produce industry.
“Harmonisation is necessary – if not increasingly critical – to achieving the sustainability outcomes required to make the fresh produce industry resilient and sustainable in the long term,” said Ron Lemaire, CPMA president.
Included in the report is a Draft Fresh Produce Sustainability Charter based on the day’s proceedings, which includes principles that should guide the fresh produce industry towards more harmonised sustainability practices.
“The International Sustainability Summit report and Sustainability Charter provides a timely set of principles and strategic outcomes to guide the industry as it navigates the complexities of sustainability monitoring and reporting,” Lemaire said.
Principles include adopting an integrated approach to sustainability, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, prioritising global harmonisation and common standards and elevating industry leadership and advocacy.
“Since its incorporation in 2006, the IFPS has led the produce industry in global standardisation efforts around traceability, data management, and produce identification,” said Jane Proctor, IFPS chair.
“Sustainability is recognised as the next big challenge and opportunity for the industry and we were therefore happy to co-host this important event. Our members from produce organisations around the globe look forward to leveraging the Summit outcomes to move forward towards a standardised approach to sustainability implementation and reporting.”
The summit’s final report also outlines strategic outcomes to pursue in support of sustainability harmonisation, as well as leading barriers and risks which should be monitored and mitigated.
