Chiquita is launching its “30BY30” Carbon Reduction Program – leading the way to fight Climate Change

Today, Chiquita announces the launch of a major program to reduce Carbon Emissions in its operations by 30% by the end of 2030. Hence “30BY30”.  This has been submitted to the SBTi (Science Based Target Initiative).  The SBTi will be responsible for measuring and reporting on our progress.  We are also proud that Chiquita is the first Global Fruit Company to engage to have its goals and progress independently checked and verified by the SBTi.

In early 2020 we 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 our stated goals and progress.  We feel progress against our goals (or indeed any shortfall), should be monitored.

We have a full 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 fertilisers among other initiatives. Achievement will require investment and cost as well as working smarter.

At Chiquita we are ‘farmers at heart’ and farming bananas is the core of our operations. “We care for our planet and our place in it” says Carlos Flores, President of Chiquita.  Farming in Central America for over 120 years we witness that our climate is changing. Global warming brings erratic rainfall, hurricanes and flooding which negatively impact the livelihoods of our employees, their families and the communities where they live as well as consistent product availability for our customers and consumers.

This carbon initiative is just one part of our overall approach to tackling climate change which sits within the 3 focus areas of our Behind the Blue Sticker approach to sustainability. Through our Farmers’ Code program and with systematic farm rejuvenation and re-engineering we are making them as carbon efficient as possible.  With our Being a Good Neighbor program we invest in the social infrastructure of communities, undertake reforestation and protect biodiversity through community projects. Our 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 we hope that our “30BY30” will inspire others in the industry to follow with their own science-based carbon reduction targets.

For all of us at Chiquita this “30BY30” engagement marks an exciting milestone in our long-standing commitment to sustainability and positions Chiquita at the leading edge in the fight against climate change.