CORAL GABLES, FL - Tropical fruit provider Fyffes continues to increase its sustainability efforts, recently announcing a major milestone. The company reports that last season, 100 percent of its melons were transported in reusable and shared wood pallets—a significant achievement toward a circular economy. Fyffes will continue to use recyclable pallets in its melon operations during the 2019/2020 season, and is looking to expand the practice to its other products as well.

Fyffes has significantly reduced its carbon footprint over the past decade, enacting different initiatives that support the first pillar of its global Sustainability Strategy—Stewardship for the Planet. The use of reusable and shared pallets for transporting fruit is one such initiative, and the millions of boxes of Fyffes fruit transported sustainably across the world is made possible through a partnership with the Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP). Through this ongoing partnership, all of Fyffes melons were transported in CHEP pallets during the 2018-2019 off-shore season—and the initiative is being expanded to Fyffes’ banana program as well.

“At Fyffes we align our sustainability approach to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Julie Cournoyer, Fyffes' Global Director of Sustainability, said about the strategic partnership with CHEP. “This partnership helps Fyffes improve on SDG 12 -‘Responsible Consumption and Production’ as well as SDG 13 - ‘Climate Action,' two key sustainability goals for Fyffes."

Studies show that reusable and shared wood pallets have a lower environmental impact than both limited-use and plastic pallets. This reusable and circular solution allows for reutilization, transportation, and resource efficiencies resulting in significant sustainability savings. In 2018 alone, Fyffes saved 337 thousand pounds of solid waste, reduced energy usage by 19 percent, and avoided 254,406 pounds of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. According to a press release, this is equivalent to 1,038 cubic yards of landfill space, 1,259 barrels of oil, and 10,966 trees planted and grown for ten years.

“We feel proud to partner with Fyffes and share our commitment to make the world a better place through the circular economy that these pallets offer,” Erick Pinot, Commercial Director of Mexico and General Manager in Central America for CHEP, commented. “This provides the benefit of acquiring a sustainable product in a society that is engaged with the planet now more than ever.”

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