Chiquita receives 2009 Circle of Excellence award by the Distribution Business Management Association

Filed in archive Best practice on June 7, 2009

Chiquita Brands International, the banana producer, recently announced that it has been awarded the 2009 Circle of Excellence award by the Distribution Business Management Association.

According to Environmental Leader, Chiquita has worked with MIT to address the carbon footprint of its supply chain. Throughout the course of a study of Chiquita's carbon footprint, it was discovered that:

Not including emissions associated with harvesting of the fruit would distort the total carbon value of a banana by 25 percent. Differences in operational efficiency and congestion of ports in California and Mississippi led to different carbon emissions for different wings of the supply chain.

Different grocery stores require different banana ripening profiles, meaning that a one-size-fits-all calculation of ripening methods was not useful. Depending on the time of the year and the outdoor temperature, different amounts of electricity were required to cool banana distribution trucks, adding another layer of complexity to reporting.

The criteria for the award is based on a company's current corporate commitment, past demonstrated programs and plans for continued commitment.