Fresh Del Monte Produce : 2023 Sustainability Report
FDP
A BRIGHTER WORLD TOMORROW®
2023 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Contents
ABOUT US
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
Table
of Contents
1
CONTENTS
4
Environmental Stewardship
2
Welcome
4.1
Our Progress Against Commitments
2.1
CEO Letter
4.2
Climate Action
2.2
CSO Letter
4.3
Water
2.3
About This Report
4.4
Renewable Energy
3
ABOUT US
4.5
Circular Economy and Waste
3.1
Fresh Del Monte at a Glance
4.5.1
Packaging
3.2
Our Business Model
4.5.2
Food Waste
3.3
Sustainability Highlights
4.6
Biodiversity
3.4
ESG Approach, Mission and Vision
4.7
Regenerative Agriculture
3.5
Materiality
5
Our People
3.6
Awards and Recognition
5.1
Our Progress Against Commitments
5.2
Health, Wellbeing and Safety
5.2.1
Health and Wellbeing
5.2.2
Safety
5.3
Diversity and Inclusion
5.4
Employee Engagement and Development
6 Our Communities
And Supply Chain Management
7 Governance and Ethical Business
7.1 ESG Governance
the Board and Board Committees
8 Supporting Documents and Tables
2023 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
2
Contents
ABOUT US
Welcome
CEO LETTER
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
Dear Stakeholders,
In a world where our environment and natural resources face unprecedented challenges, Fresh Del Monte is steadfast in its commitment to sustainable practices that respect and harness the power of nature. We believe that nature itself provides the tools we need to create a harmonious and sustainable ecosystem, and we must leverage these tools wisely.
Sustainability is and will remain at the core of our business. It is an area of continued focus year after year as we work collectively to create a Brighter World Tomorrow®. This journey means implementing sustainable practices wherever possible, reducing our impact on the planet, taking care of our people and working to conserve and restore the lands in and around our operations.
I'm proud to highlight some of our significant advancements in sustainability over the past year.We have made substantial progress across many aspects of our operations as highlighted in the following paragraphs, and in some cases, we discovered novel, innovative ways to further optimize our processes.These efforts have enabled us to operate more sustainably and in greater harmony with the environment.
We have made significant progress towards our 2030 goals by increasing the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices in our production divisions by 10.9% compared with 2022.
Our scientists are diligently monitoring soil health indicators to determine the benefits of regenerative farming methods to optimize yields while preserving our valuable growing lands. Additionally, in 2023, we planted nearly 300,000 trees worldwide, bringing our total to 2,487,847 trees planted from 2016 to 2023. This means we are now 99.5% of the way to achieving our goal of planting or donating 2,500,000 trees by 2025 - a goal we set for ourselves in 2016.
In 2023, we launched a first-of-its-kind reusable plastic container (RPC) for banana shipments. These RPCs are unique in that they can transport the industry standard 40 pounds of bananas in a reusable, sustainable way that promotes a circular economy of plastics and reduces the use of single-use packaging. Each container, with a 15-year lifecycle, will be reused approximately five times a year. While this may seem like a minor adjustment, the long-term impact is notable. Small changes, when implemented across our operations, accumulate to create a substantial difference.
A significant part of our circular economy initiative is to maximize the utilization of our fruit residues and byproducts, embodying our belief that nature provides us with the tools we need.To this end, we recently opened a biofertilizer plant in our Kenya operations. This innovative facility transforms residues from our pineapple processing operations into biofertilizers.
2023 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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Contents
ABOUT US
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
Welcome
Initially, we plan to utilize this product within our Kenyan operations and eventually make it available to other growers in East Africa, with aspirations to see its benefits ripple across our global footprint. These biofertilizers improve soil texture and plant yield,offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers.This type of innovation has the potential to revolutionize agriculture,embodying Fresh Del Monte's commitment to environmental stewardship and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in farming.
Building on our commitment to harness the full potential of our produce and minimize waste wherever possible, Fresh Del Monte has extended its partnership with the University of Granada (UGR), a prestigious Spanish university known for its cutting-edge research.
This collaboration focuses on exploring how bioactive compounds from fruit residues can be used for medical and non-medical applications, promoting health and well-being. The initial research yielded promising results, and we are pleased to continue this partnership to uncover new opportunities for these valuable compounds.
Our communities, especially in our growing regions, are core members of our family and key to helping us build a Brighter World Tomorrow®. In 2023, we advanced this initiative, recognizing education as a powerful tool in raising awareness and empowering individuals. In Kenya, we operate 13 schools in conjunction with the Kenyan government. These schools prepare local individuals for roles in our processing operations, including mechanical engineering, agronomy, and farm management. Should they choose a different path, they graduate with a deeper understanding of the world around them.
In Costa Rica and Guatemala, we are proud of our award-winningprogram, JUNTOS, developed in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). This program provides education on sustainable land development for areas surrounding Fresh Del Monte's banana and pineapple farms. By investing in education, we ensure that our communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to support sustainable practices and improve their livelihoods.
As we work towards building a Brighter World Tomorrow®, we aspire to inspire, partner, and collaborate with others who share our mission. Through thoughtful, measured steps, the agriculture industry can protect our planet and conserve it for future generations. Sustainability isn't a solo mission; it's a collective one.
We're optimistic about the future and committed to continuing our journey towards sustainability. Together, we can make a profound impact and ensure a healthier planet for generations to come.
I urge everyone to reconnect with nature and find inspiration in its wisdom. At Fresh Del Monte, we have discovered countless solutions by observing and respecting the natural world. By working in harmony with nature, we can unlock its potential and build a truly sustainable future for all.
Together, let's cultivate a legacy of sustainability and stewardship, ensuring that the beauty and resources of our planet endure for future generations.
2023 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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Contents
ABOUT US
Welcome
CSO LETTER
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
Hans Sauter
Chief Sustainability Officer
and Senior Vice President of
Research & Development
Dear Readers,
As we release our sixth Sustainability Report, I am thrilled to see how our passion for sustainability has been gaining traction throughout our company. At a time when global food systems urgently need to reinvent themselves to address the hardships of a warmer climate, it is crucial for large-scale farmers like us to lead by example and demonstrate scalable transformations.
We have built a reputation for proactive action and remain dedicated to this mission. Despite the complexity of the task, we continue to uncover significant opportunities for positive impact. From revalorizing waste by converting it into biofertilizers, to applying rigorous scientific principles for adapting regenerative agriculture to tropical crops, to revolutionizing farm management with digital tools, and creating new market opportunities for both bioengineered and conventionally bred crops - we are continually adapting to a rapidly changing future.
To empower our organization, we leverage frameworks like the
Task Force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to assess, adapt, and mitigate climate risks while identifying opportunities such as our DM Zero™ certified carbon neutral pineapple.
The JUNTOS project, our award-winning project in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), is now starting to use the tools provided by the Task Force for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and its LEAP methodology to locate our interface
with nature, better evaluate our dependencies and impacts on nature, assess risks and opportunities, and prepare to respond in our Central American operations. In total, 17 forest connectivity routes favoring biodiversity and water conservation have been proposed, with a potential impact on 159,000 hectares of land - and more than 200 animal species
- in the watersheds at stake.
Protecting our planet requires everyone's participation. As an industry, we must use science and technology to adapt to new challenges that the world throws our way. In 2024, new regulatory directives will come into play that will work to address many of our planet's climate-related challenges. We are actively preparing for these upcoming regulations (like CSRD, CSDDD, SB253, SB261), which aim to establish a level playing field for the necessary transformations.
I am excited by the opportunities ahead to transform global food systems to be more sustainable.We will continue our focus on achieving nature-positive outcomes - this ethos of continuous improvement drives all our CSR efforts. We utilize science, technology, and innovation to build a Brighter World Tomorrow® and promote sustainable practices within our operations, hopefully inspiring others-in and out of our industry-to do the same.
2023 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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Contents
ABOUT US
ABOUT
THIS
REPORT
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (hereafter "Fresh Del Monte or FDP") is pleased to present our sixth Sustainability Report, which showcases the environmental, social and governance progress we have made from the calendar year of January 1 to December 31, 2023. The scope of this report covers our global operations.
This report is informed by our materiality assessment, details of which can be found in the section on Our Materiality. This means we focus on the issues most relevant to our stakeholders.
We aim to provide a thorough overview of our sustainability initiatives, achievements, and future goals. Our disclosures align with several sustainability reporting standards and frameworks, including SASB, TCFD, and GRI. For a deeper understanding of our sustainability journey and the data supporting our progress, please refer to the environmental datasection in the appendix.
We welcome your feedback.
Please contact us at:
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Contents
ABOUT US
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
ABOUt uS
Contents
ABOUT US
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
ABOUT
US
"We market our products globally under the Del Monte brand, known for product innovation, quality, freshness, and reliability since 1892."
Fresh Del Monte at a Glance
Fresh Del Monte is a leading vertically integrated producer, marketer, and distributor of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, with its corporate office operating out of Coral Gables, Florida (US). We are also a top producer and distributor of prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, and snacks in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
We market our products globally under the Del Monte brand, known for product innovation, quality, freshness, and reliability since 1892.
Our extensive global sourcing and logistics network enables us to consistently deliver high-quality products and value-added services to our customers.
41,000+
Employees globally
Products available in over
80 countries
39 COUNTRIES
in which we operate
Nourishing families for
135 years
Publicly listed
SINCE 1997 (NYSE:FDP)
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Contents
ABOUT US
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
OUR BUSINESS MODEL
Our product range includes fresh fruits such as pineapples, avocados, bananas, and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, including melons, grapes, citrus fruits, apples, mangoes, kiwis, and more.
We also offer prepared foods like pineapples, peaches, fruit cocktail, pears, tomatoes, fruit juices, various meals, and snacks, as well as industrial products such as purees, pulps, and concentrates.
We source our fresh produce from both company-owned and controlled farms, as well as through supply contracts with independent producers. In 2023, 49% of the fresh produce we sold was grown on company-controlled farms, while 51% came primarily from independent growers.
Produce is transported to packaging facilities, where extensive sampling ensures that only premium products are distributed and shipped. Our logistics network is designed for quick and efficient transportation, with a growing emphasis on climate efficiency.
Our distribution centers and fresh-cut facilities meet the increasing demands of our customers - retail stores, food service operators, wholesalers, and distributors - ensuring our products reach consumers at the peak of freshness.
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Contents
ABOUT US
Environmental
Our People
Our Communities
Governance
Supporting
Stewardship
& Ethical Business
Documents & Tables
SUSTAINABILITY
HIGHLIGHTS
We are proud to share key achievements across several critical areas:
BIODIVERSITY
Completed ecosystem mapping in Guatemala and Costa Rica, with plans to extend this to other farms in 2024. For more information, we encourage you to explore Biodiversity.
CLIMATE
Achieved a 28% reduction in scope 1+2 emissions, reaching SBTi targets 7 years early. For a detailed overview, pleaseconsiderreadingClimateAction.
DIVERSITY
69% of U.S. employees are from diverse backgrounds. More highlights can be found in Diversity and Inclusion.
HEALTH
Delivered healthy and nutritious produce to millions of customers. Providing health services to hundreds of local workers and communities in growing regions. For more information, please visit Health and Nutrition and Community Engagement.
PACKAGING
Introduced our first reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for shipping bananas in North America, avoiding 758 tons of single-use paper and more than 5 tons of plastic since inception. To learn more, please jump to Packaging.
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Disclaimer
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. published this content on November 06, 2024, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on November 06, 2024 at 19:34:10.903.