Lleida-based Fruits de Ponent has been selected by the United Nations Global Compact to participate in its Leaders Summit this week.
The annual meeting is usually held in New York but due to the pandemic, this year’s event will take place online.
CEO Josep Presseguer will give a speech outlining the cooperative’s commitment to integrating the UN’s sustainability goals in its everyday business strategy across all areas of the organisation.
Fruits de Ponent is the only Spanish agri-food cooperative taking part at the event, which will be chaired by UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, and feature almost 200 leaders from non-governmental organisations and companies worldwide.
This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the guiding principles on human rights established by the UN to indicate to governments and companies how to act to promote these rights.
In his analysis, Presseguer will emphasise the role of cooperatives in upholding these principles and respecting the planet, as healthy food cannot be produced in a sustainable way without fertile soil, good management of water resources, biodiversity, access to fair trade and decent employment for workers.
Global Compact is the UN’s international initiative to advance the implementation of ten universally accepted principles to promote sustainable development in the areas of human rights and business, labour standards, the environment and the fight against corruption in the activities and business strategy of companies.
With more than 12,500 signatories in over 160 countries, it is the largest corporate social responsibility initiative in the world.
During the Leaders Summit, topics such as the convergent crises of climate change, the global pandemic of Covid-19, the worsening of social and economic inequality, and rampant corruption will also be addressed, while offering a roadmap for a sustainable recovery.
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