Chiquita Brands International, Inc : Chiquita Brands Set to Celebrate Earth Day With Community Outreach
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Chiquita Brands Set to Celebrate Earth Day With Community Outreach
Employees to Volunteer in Local Communities
Opportunity to Showcase That Every Day is Earth Day
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - April 19, 2013 - On Monday, April 22, 2013, people all around
the world will celebrate Earth Day. To mark the occasion, Chiquita Brands (NYSE:
CQB) will be getting hands on. Employees from the company's headquarters
location in Charlotte are heading out of the office and into the community.
Volunteers will spend the day in several local community gardens and at three
local schools working to improve their gardens and teach students about
sustainability.
"Chiquita is and has been committed to improving the communities in which our
employees work and live," said Ed Lonergan, Chiquita's president and chief
executive officer. "Activities like these reflect our strong belief that we are
in this world to make it better by improving lives, loving our planet and
leading our industry."
Chiquita's global colleagues are also putting the company's beliefs into action.
Volunteers from across the world are taking part in Earth Day activities and
learning sessions. In the tropics, company volunteers will plant more than
1,000 trees in communities surrounding our banana farms. Every site will give
these activities a special touch. For example, in Guatemala, every individual
will label the tree with their name as a symbolic gesture of committing to the
protection and well-being of these critical assets to their communities.
Every Day is Earth Day
Celebrating the planet goes well beyond April 22 for Chiquita. Every day is
Earth Day. While the company is passionate about its healthy and nutritious
products, it is also passionate about loving the planet. Corporate social
responsibility (CSR) and sustainability efforts are woven deep into the fabric
of Chiquita. Looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact, and ultimately
contribute to a world capable of effectively sustaining future generations, is a
top priority for the iconic brand.
"Chiquita began this journey more than 20 years ago and ever since has expanded
our CSR and sustainability programs to cover not only our Latin American
operations but also our operations in North America and Europe," said Manuel
Rodriguez, senior vice president of government affairs and chief corporate
social responsibility officer for Chiquita. "We are convinced that doing the
right thing is not only good business, but the only way to assure a successful
and sustainable business."
Want to know more? Here are just a few examples of some of Chiquita's latest
projects and work.
Chiquita LEEDing the Way
The company's corporate headquarters was recently awarded Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating. LEED, established by the United
States Green Building Council (USGBC), consists of a rating system for the
design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. In order
to earn LEED certification, a commercial building must satisfy all LEED
prerequisites.
The Chiquita headquarters showcases many sustainable features such as open
spaces with windows which allow for more natural light use over artificial light
use and wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Over 48% of
materials used to upfit the office space were manufactured within a 500 mile
radius of building. This approach not only reduces emissions generated from the
transportation of materials but also supports the local economies in which they
were manufactured.
With the office's convenient uptown location, employees have access to several
public transportation options. Having these amenities within a close proximity
promotes walking and the use of public transportation which in turn can reduce
the amount of single occupancy vehicles being used and diminish pollution.
Sixaola Reforestation Project - Costa Rica
Chiquita's owned and independent banana farms are located in Latin America. A
major focus for the company in these areas is conservation, restoration and use
of forestry resources within climate friendly farming. A new initiative in Costa
Rica, Sixaola Reforestation Project, was recently launched with the goal of
establishing a model of mixed forestry, both commercial and conservation, linked
to the banana farms that will create economic, ecological and social value.
Close to 5,000 trees have already been planted in the border area between Costa
Rica and Panama and it is expected that within 24 months the project will cover
nearly 250 hectares.
Carbon Neutral Ripening Facility - Europe
After many years of ripening Chiquita bananas in the Dutch town of Gorinchem,
the company invested in one of the first - if not the first - carbon neutral
banana ripening facilities in the world. With this initiative, Chiquita has
reduced nearly 50% of its electricity consumption. The facility's pioneering
design meets high standards of sustainability, product quality and employee
well-being. The building houses offices and ripening rooms, and features several
state-of-the-art technologies.
For more information about Chiquita's corporate social responsibility efforts,
please visit the Chiquita Difference.
About Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
Chiquita Brands (NYSE: CQB) is a leading international marketer and distributor
of nutritious, high-quality fresh and value-added food products - from energy-
rich bananas, blends of convenient green salads, other fruits to healthy
snacking products. The company markets its healthy, fresh products under the
Chiquita® and Fresh Express® premium brands and other related trademarks. With
annual revenues of more than $3 billion, Chiquita employs approximately 20,000
people and has operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. For more
information, please visit http://www.chiquita.com/.
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Chiquita Earth Day:
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Source: Chiquita Brands International, Inc via Thomson Reuters ONE
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Datum: 19.04.2013 - 22:29 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 251014
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