Calavo Growers Publishes Second Annual Sustainability Highlights Report
SANTA PAULA, CA - As companies continue to show growing support for sustainability initiatives across the industry, Calavo Growers has published its second annual Sustainability Highlights Report for 2019. The report outlines the company’s approach to a more sustainable future and its commitment to the environment. Within the report, Calavo also details important accomplishments made by the grower as it relates to sustainability in its facilities and practices.
“Our sustainability priorities are closely tied in with changing stakeholder expectations of what a strong, well-managed company should be. Our investors want to see evidence that we are addressing climate change risks. Our customers want to see more recycled packaging on their shelves. And consumers want healthy, nutritious choices that they can feel good about, whether that’s Fair Trade avocados, organic zucchini noodles, or non-GMO tomatoes,” reflected Jim Gibson, CEO. “There is no corner of our business where sustainability is not a key topic of conversation, and there is no question that this trend will continue and amplify in the coming years.”
Some of the major highlights from the 2019 report include:
- Energy and Emissions: conducted a company-wide lighting study across all company-owned facilities to ensure 100 percent LED or high-efficiency lighting conversion inside the next three years
- Waste and Water: installed a sophisticated wastewater filtration system at its Uruapan, Michoacán, processing facility that significantly reduces the amount of waste material and related hauling costs. In addition, the filtered vegetative waste previously sent to landfill is now treated with soda ash and is discharged as compost
- Packaging and Logistics: identified opportunities to reduce plastic in its guacamole tubs sold at retail and sourced new post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PETE). Plastic lids now contain at least 25 percent post-consumer recycled material
To see the report in its entirety, click here
We congratulate Calavo Growers on its successes in the field of sustainability. We look forward to seeing what new, innovative measures will come into play as companies across the produce industry continue to introduce new environmentally friendly initiatives.
