The fresh produce giant’s 2024 report demonstrates continued progress in embedding responsible business practices throughout its supply chain
Fyffes has announced the publication of its 2024 Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Report, coinciding with World Human Rights Day.
It marks the company’s fourth consecutive year of reporting its progress, challenges, and commitments in embedding responsible business practices throughout its global operations and supply chain.
“I am pleased to present Fyffes’ 2024 Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Report, which builds on the foundation we established in previous years and demonstrates our continued leadership in responsible business practices,” said Caoimhe Buckley, chief corporate affairs officer.
“In 2024, we continued to embed human rights and environmental due diligence as a core part of how we do business.
”Guided by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the forthcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), we strengthened our governance systems, improved transparency, and deepened engagement with workers, suppliers, and communities across our global value chain,” she outlined.
The company said that this year’s report introduces three significant developments in Fyffes’ human rights due diligence approach.
These include the introduction of two new salient human rights risks, the right to adequate and decent housing accommodation (workplace accommodation) and communities’ right to information and participation; the continued evolution of due diligence practices across the value chain; and strengthened ethics and governance structures.
“Over the past year, we have taken important steps to strengthen our governance and risk management so that human rights and environmental due diligence are not standalone initiatives, but part of how Fyffes makes decisions every day,” said Marina Souza, chief legal and compliance officer at Fyffes.
“By reinforcing our grievance processes, formalising our Ethics Committee, and enhancing risk management, we are building a framework that identifies and addresses risks earlier and more effectively.”
Across its farms and supply chains, Fyffes advanced its Prevention and Mitigation Plan, launched a Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Self-Assessment Tool for farms and suppliers, and introduced dedicated actions to promote worker mental health and wellbeing.
“As we look ahead, Fyffes will continue to scale its prevention and mitigation activities, expand supplier self-assessments, and prepare for alignment with new EU due diligence regulation,” added Buckley.
“We will continue to invest in people and partnerships that promote decent work, resilient communities, and a healthy environment – staying ahead of regulatory expectations and delivering on our vision of Shaping Wellbeing for the World.”
