Fresh produce giant Chiquita Brands International has won the 2009 Circle of Excellence Award for its commitment to environmental protection and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in global logistics.
The award was presented by the Distribution Business Management Association (DBMA), which is represented by 50 of the top global supply chain companies.
“After a multi-month review of many award-worthy companies, Chiquita stood out because of its ongoing green transportation initiatives that focus on reducing carbon emissions in transportation throughout North America,” said Amy Thorn, executive director of DBMA. “Overall Chiquita was chosen as the 2009 Circle of Excellence Award winner because of its dedication to CSR activities and innovative work with MIT (Massachusetts Institute for Technology) to measure the carbon footprint in Chiquita's global supply chain.”
Manuel Rodriguez, senior vice president and corporate responsibility officer at Chiquita, was on hand to pick up the award.
“It was my pleasure to accept this award on behalf of the Chiquita global organisation,” he said. “Our focus on practical accomplishments in sustainability over the past 10 years has helped transform the company into a CSR leader. We’re excited about the future as we collaborate with top organisations and universities on the challenges ahead in sustaining our natural resources and caring for our environment.”