Chiquita Launches its “30BY30” Carbon Reduction Program - Leading the way to fight climate change
Today, Chiquita announces the launch of “30BY30,” a major program to reduce carbon emissions in its operations by 30% by the end of 2030This has been submitted to the SBTi (Science Based Target Initiative). The SBTi will be responsible for measuring and reporting on Chiquita’s progress. Chiquita is also proud to be the first global fruit company to engage to have its goals and progress independently checked and verified by the SBTi.
In early 2020 Chiquita commissioned a Carbon Footprint Study to identify the key areas of focus for carbon emission reduction in line with the Treaty of Paris. This paved the way to engage with the SBTi to ensure an independent review of the brand’s stated goals and progress. Chiquita feels progress against its goals (or indeed any shortfall), should be monitored.
Chiquita has a fully detailed roadmap until 2030. Clear objectives have been set to reduce energy consumption, moving to greener electricity using solar panels or wind turbines, replacing diesel use by switching to biofuels or electric vehicles as well as reducing nitrogenous emissions from fertilizers among other initiatives. Achievement will require investment and cost as well as working smarter.
Chiquita strives to be ‘farmers at heart’ and farming bananas is the core of its operations. “We care for our planet and our place in it” says Carlos Flores, President of Chiquita. Having farmed in Central America for over 120 years, Chiquita has witnessed that the climate is changing. Global warming brings erratic rainfall, hurricanes and flooding which negatively impacts the livelihoods of its employees, their families and the communities where they live, as well as consistent product availability for the brand’s customers and consumers.
This carbon initiative is just one part of Chiquita’s overall approach to tackling climate change which sits within the 3 focus areas of the Behind the Blue Sticker approach to sustainability. Through the Farmers’ Code program and with systematic farm rejuvenation and re-engineering, Chiquita is making them as carbon efficient as possible. With the Being a Good Neighbor program, Chiquita invests in the social infrastructure of communities, undertakes reforestation and protects biodiversity through community projects. The Nogal Wildlife corridor in Costa Rica and the San San Pond Sak wetlands project in Panama are two longstanding examples. As part of the For the Greater Good program Chiquita hopes that its “30BY30” will inspire others in the industry to follow with their own science-based carbon reduction targets.
For Chiquita, this “30BY30” engagement marks an exciting milestone in its long-standing commitment to sustainability and positions Chiquita at the leading edge in the fight against climate change.
For media inquiries, please contact Jessie Stivers, jstivers@coynepr.com.
About Chiquita Brands International
Chiquita is a leading global produce company that is committed to providing both consumers and customers across nearly 70 countries with the highest quality of fruit and service, making Chiquita the banana of choice. For more than 150 years, Chiquita has been proudly producing great-tasting, superior quality bananas. The brand creates a positive impact by implementing the principles of sustainability throughout all of its business practices under the “Behind the Blue Sticker” initiative. Chiquita’s iconic Blue Sticker has been the seal of approval for high-quality fruit, and a celebration of fun, but it also represents an unwavering commitment to sustainable farming, biodiversity and giving back to the communities in which the banana plantations operate. Great-tasting and convenient Chiquita bananas are fat-free, cholesterol-free and provide a source of potassium, fibers and vitamin B6. To learn more, visit www.chiquita.com
