Rainforest Alliance Friendly Bananas and a More Sustainable Shangri-la.

Now there’s a new banana vying for sustainability attention: Dole has just announced that it is selling bananas from farms in South America that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance, following the lead of Chiquita. And Asia’s Shangri-la Hotel group has just released its first Sustainability Report. EarthCheck, the global benchmarking and sustainability certification programme, confirmed that Shangri-La reduced its CO2 emissions by 7%, energy consumption by 5% and water consumption by 6% per guest night in 2010 over 2009, based on 64 operating hotels.

By Tina Casey For Triple Pundit (4 May 2011):

When it comes to fresh produce, establishing brand recognition is a tricky business. Many commercially grown fruits and vegetables are indistinguishable from one company to the next. Bananas are one standout exception largely thanks to the Chiquita company’s groundbreaking ad campaign in the 1960′s. The company also has a jump on sustainability marketing, having worked with the Rainforest Alliance since the 1990′s. Now there’s a new banana vying for attention in that arena: Dole has just announced that it is selling bananas from farms in South America that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

Dole and the Rainforest Alliance…

Dole’s South American certified farms are located in Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala. The farms meet the Rainforest Alliance’s standards for environmental sustainability, but there is much more to the certification program than that. The Alliance uses standards developed through its work coordinating the Sustainable Agriculture Network (pdf), a coalition of local organizations that supports social equity and economic well being in addition to environmental protection.

More Sustainability Points for Dole

In the spirit of competition, Dole has stepped sustainability marketing up a notch by using the Internet to create a personal connection between consumers and farmers. Dole Organic’s website enables consumers to make an e-visit to the exact farm where their banana was grown, by referencing the farm’s code number on the Dole sticker.  The website provides information on the farm’s certifications, along with photos and a map. It’s a creative strategy that reinforces brand recognition by encouraging more consumers to take a closer look at their fruit stickers, while leveraging the company’s Alliance certification. Don’t be surprised if Chiquita comes up with its own extra layer of consumer engagement.

More Companies Aiming for Rainforest Certification

The Rainforest Alliance’s core constituents are the communities of small farmers and local employers who have come to depend on sustainability strategies for their survival, but the organization also recognizes that industry leaders with high name recognition play a critical role in transitioning the global food supply to more sustainable practices. In addition to working with Dole and Chiquita. the Alliance is working with Kraft Coffee and Unilever, which is aiming for 100% sourcing from certified farms for its Lipton teas by 2015.  Mars, Inc. also plans to transition to sustainable cocoa.

Communication Advantages of Rainforest Certification

Communicating sustainability concepts to the general public has always been a challenge, especially in a competitive marketplace where companies only have a few seconds to catch a consumer’s eye and engage their attention. Dole’s solution was to focus on the engaging “farm visit” concept rather than subject consumers to a barrage of information on, say, soil conservation. Similarly, Rainforest certification offers companies a shorthand way to inform consumers. All of their sustainability policies can be summed up by the Alliance’s catchy frog symbol, which is turning into a highly recognizable brand of its own.

Source: www.triplepundit.com

Shangri-La releases first sustainability report

e-turbo news, Global Travel Industry News (5 May 2011):

HONG KONG – Shangri-La Asia Limited today released its first sustainability report outlining the company’s progress in the areas of environment, health and safety, employees, supply chain and stakeholder relations for 2010. The report will be issued every two years to track improvements in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

Titled Enhance, Enrich, Embrace, the report shows Shangri-La’s commitment to environmental protection and resource management, a focus on social development through investments made in the welfare of colleagues and business partners and Shangri‑La’s Care for People Project committing each hotel to education and health projects in local children’s organisations over a minimum of five years.

Highlights include:

EarthCheck, the global benchmarking and sustainability certification programme, confirmed that Shangri-La reduced its CO2 emissions by seven per cent, energy consumption by five per cent and water consumption by six per cent per guest night in 2010 over 2009 based on 64 operating hotels.

Out of 40,800 permanent colleagues, people with disabilities (PWD) compose over one per cent of the headcount, progressing further towards the company’s target of two per cent.

Sixteen per cent of hotels have been certified with OHSA 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Administration), including 10 hotels that were newly certified in 2010. Sixteen hotels are scheduled for certification in 2011.

One hundred per cent of all group contract suppliers adhere to the company’s code of conduct with regular external audits being performed to ensure consistency and compliance.

All hotels comply with eco-friendly packaging of bathroom amenities made of Plastarch material, which decomposes by almost 70 per cent in 80 days.

Over HK$2 million has been invested by hotels on various health and education projects offering over 3,300 children better school facilities, enhanced learning environments and hotel service skills.

The company launched its first CSR initiatives in 2005, which were streamlined and refined in 2009 with the hiring of a dedicated CSR officer. The programme’s three main areas were formalised in 2009 with Sustainability, Embrace and Sanctuary.

“Shangri-La has made a long term commitment to operate in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner. We are pleased to present this report which will serve as a benchmark for monitoring our development and progress,” said Greg Dogan, president and chief executive officer of Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited. “The report is another step towards our goal of being leaders in corporate citizenship and sustainable development and improving the quality of life for the communities in which we do business.

The report references the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (G3) in order to accurately present economic, social and environmental performance. This report meets GRI’s Application Level C, and covers 44 GRI performance indicators. All indicators have been selected for their relevance and where the most updated and accurate information for reporting is available. Information on GRI is available at www.globalreporting.org .

Source: www.eturbonews.com