“As part of our ongoing commitment to the environment we work towards the wellbeing of the planet and are focused on climate change mitigation. We are proud to receive this certification which is a step on the road to our long-term target to be ‘lifetime carbon neutral’ by 2049,” said Johnathan Sutton Group Safety & Environment Executive at Westfalia Fruit International.

“We are guardians of the environments and communities in which we operate, and our aim is to ensure our environmental commitments become an integral part of our day-to-day activities. We seek ways to continually improve our environmental performance and operate in a responsible manner, by focusing on priorities such as reducing waste and making reductions in our carbon emissions,” he continued.

In 2021 Westfalia Fruit made significant progress towards its sustainability targets: reducing the company’s carbon footprint per kilogram of fruit by 5%, waste to landfill by almost 9%, liquid fuel used by 26% and electricity usage by 4%. At the same time, it increased recycled waste by 28%, water use efficiency by 14% and own electricity generation by 50%.

For example, the company has pioneered a low-flow drip irrigation technique that saves a significant volume of the water used to grow the crop, while also increasing the output and economic value of the fruit. It is estimated that the approach will bring an overall 50% efficiency boost in farms where it is implemented.

For Westfalia Fruit’s GHG emissions that cannot currently be avoided, the company compensated with emissions reductions (carbon credits) certified by VERRA, through afforestation projects in South America that are converting degraded grasslands into forest plantations.

Westfalia Fruit UK also achieved a carbon neutral certification under Carbon Trust, an independent certification body for carbon footprints with an internationally recognised carbon neutral standard.