Greenyard unveils 2025 sustainability roadmap in line with long-term climate targets
08 Dec 2021 --- Alongside its fourth Sustainability Report, Greenyard has also introduced its Sustainability Roadmap 2025. The roadmap defines how the company is driving transitions toward healthier lifestyles and sustainable food supply chains.
The impact of climate change is undeniable, underscores Greenyard. All over the world, populations are being confronted with extreme weather conditions, severe droughts, relentless heatwaves and declining biodiversity. It is clear: business as usual is no longer an option, the company warns.
The consequences are also being felt across a wide range of business sectors. The F&B industry depends on nature and favorable climate conditions and businesses run on what nature can provide. Growing fruit and vegetables is a critical yet fragile activity.
Improving life for everyone
Greenyard embraces its responsibility and aims toward healthier diets and more sustainable food value chains.
Greenyard believes it is in “a unique position to make a significant and positive contribution.”
The shift toward plant-based diets is seen as the way forward to feed a growing world population while respecting the natural boundaries of our planet. As a global player in supplying fruit and vegetables, and together with its customers and growers, Greenyard aims to have a significant and positive impact in this critical transition.
Moreover, the company uses its role as a connecting partner between growers and consumers to create shorter, more efficient and more sustainable food value chains.
An integrated approach
Greenyard’s Sustainability Roadmap is based on three crucial pillars to creating more sustainable food supply chains.
- Building sustainable food supply chains
Greenyard is committed to building sustainable food supply chains through long-term relationships with its growers. The company supports them to apply the highest environmental and social standards.
- Improving environmental footprint
Fruit and vegetables have a relatively lower environmental impact than other food categories. Nevertheless, Greenyard continues to work hard to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, limit its water footprint and prevent waste.
- Teaming up with customers
Greenyard’s business model is based on close collaboration with its customers. The company jointly develops healthy and sustainable food concepts with its customers and creates shorter and more efficient supply chains.
Ambitious targets and commitments
Each of these pillars is translated into several targets and clear commitments. The company aims for a 50% reduction of its CO2 emissions by 2025 and develops a net-zero strategy toward 2050 in line with the Science Based Targets initiative. Other highlights include a 25% reduction of food waste by 2025 and 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. The company also wants to have 100% of its grower base in high and medium-risk origins certified by 2025.
This roadmap will also contribute to Greenyard’s cost efficiencies. Lowering waste and reducing energy consumption, for instance, will automatically translate into reduced expenses.
The company affirms that solid collaboration throughout the entire food value chain is required to drive the transition toward an improved life successfully.
Choosing the path of healthy and sustainable solutions will call for time and investments. It will demand efforts from all stakeholders involved, from growers to consumers.
Edited by Elizabeth Green
