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Port launches super sustainable banana The company’s pioneering new offering combines Fairtrade, organic and carbon neutral certification.
with a social and environmental impact thanks to the Fairtrade system.” At the core of social justice in the
by Maura Maxwell
banana sector is the need for banana
@maurafruitnet
producers to have access to a living income. This means that farmers
S
should have sufficient revenues to “In order to reduce climate change, we have to stop
cover all essential costs (food and
conscious consumers in
talking and act. We have a very long way to go but this is
water, clothing, housing, etc.) plus
Belgium can now buy
the beginning and with our super banana everyone can
a little extra to create a buffer for
make a contribution.”
unforeseen expenses.
ocial and environmentally
bananas that combine Fairtrade, organic and carbon neutral
Xavier Piesvaux, CEO of Delhaize, says becoming
“In many ways, this is the main
certification following the launch of
carbon neutral formed one of the retailer’s three main
condition for both social and
a new super-sustainable banana.
goals under its Lions Footprint programme.
environmental sustainability as
The fruit, supplied by Hamburg-
“By taking actions in order to reduce our carbon
studies have shown that agriculture
based Port International, is available
footprint, we can create an immediate positive impact,”
becomes more environmentally
at Delhaize stores. “Fairtrade and
he explains. “Launching carbon-neutral products gives
friendly if the producers have access
organic certifications are essential
our ambitions extra visibility. By buying these products,
to a decent income,” Port says.
parts of our DNA. We have been
customers can contribute themselves to a healthier
trading with both organic and
planet, step by step.”
Fairtrade bananas for over 20 years
Nicholas Lambert, director of Fairtrade Belgium, adds:
“Consumers of the super banana can therefore be assured: buying this banana will be good for banana
now, being pioneers in Europe.
“Whilst CO2 neutrality is definitely an important step in
producers, the environment and
With Be Climate, we want to take
the right direction, it is the combination with Fairtrade
the climate. A trade-off between
sustainability to the next level and
and organic that makes us go bananas.
different aspects of sustainability is
protect the Earth that we all live on,”
“This banana combines a healthy climate and
says Port International’s Karlsson
environment with social justice for producers. Fairtrade
Port.
producers show that it is possible to produce bananas
no longer needed.” While it welcomed this new step towards sustainability in the banana sector, Fairtrade Belgium said more effort is needed to make sure that all bananas sold in Belgium abide by ambitious sustainability criteria. “According to our own research, 62 per cent of the Belgian population believes that the Covid crisis should push governments to encourage a transition towards sustainable food systems,” the association says. “Respecting the rights of farmers and workers in the agri-food system and in particular the right to a decent income should therefore be at the core of this transition. It is time for all Belgian actors involved in the banana value chain to commit together to sustainability and to set ambitious goals.” _ LEFT—The bananas are available at
Delhaize stores in Belgium
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fresh focus banana 2021
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