Sustainable agricultural sourcing and processing of fruits and vegetables are key aspects of our corporate strategy. As our business is based on natural ingredients, we understand the importance of taking responsibility to help preserve our nature’s resources. SVZ’s sustainability strategy focuses on sourcing, producing, and organizing the supply chain efficiently. We do so in a responsible manner for our internal and external stakeholders and society, whilst cooperating with other stakeholders in the food supply chain.
SVZ recognizes the importance of being a responsible corporate entity. We aim to improve the environmental quality in our sourcing and processing locations through numerous business initiatives. These include balancing crop yields with minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Reducing the logistical impact of our business is another priority. Our strive for continuous sustainable improvement is also visible in conserving energy and water, reducing or eliminating waste, and recycling and properly disposing of remaining side streams and waste. Our corporate social responsibility objectives range from offering stable annual contracts to growers, the training of employees, to stimulating local education and sports events to improve the lives of children.
We are committed to making our company more sustainable – environmentally, economically, and socially. Our progress in this endeavour will be measured by how we source, process, and market our products, by our co-operation with other organizations in the supply chain, and by how we engage with stakeholders and local communities.
Our sustainability strategy covers five aspects:
Sourcing:
- In close proximity to our factories, retaining natural elements in fruit and vegetables as much as possible, and at the same time reducing transport and supporting local economies
- Cooperating directly with growers to reduce the use of agro-chemicals
- Establishing long term contacts with suppliers enabling them to invest and grow
Producing:
- Adecreasing environmental impact (water, energy, electricity)
- Focussed on improving yields
- Reducing waste
Organizing our supply chain efficiently:
- Reducing unnecessary transport (food miles)
- Avoiding packaging waste by stimulating returnable packaging or tankers
- Reducing temperature controlled storage needs by advanced planning
Corporate social responsibility:
- Enabling our customers to offer consumer goods with less (environmental) impact
- Adopting the Cosun Code of Conduct towards our employees, giving them clear guidelines on their rights and expected behaviour
- Training our employees, allowing them to shape their ambitions
- Ensuring that our neighbours do not experience any unnecessary or excessive inconveniences from our activities
- Joining COSUN’s efforts in tackling (child) obesity by sponsoring sporting events
- Improving the living conditions of children close to fruit sourcing areas
Value chain co-operation:
- The effect of our actions can only be improved by cooperating with other stakeholders in the food supply chain.
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