Sustainability
Sustainability is our most important commitment in both the short and long term. We have always conducted our activities taking care for the environment where we do business, which is why for years we have been firmly committed to the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. We are able to reduce the Carbon and Water Footprint of our crops thanks to the use of solar energy generated through our solar panels, while all our partners have implemented the Spring Module, which will help us to certify the efficient use of water in all our crops.
Furthermore, we here at Fresón de Palos have reduced the use of plastic. We work with two clearly delineated areas, the use of greenhouse plastic in our members’ farms, and the reduction of plastic in our packaging.
-17%
In the 2022-2023 berry season, we ended with an additional 17% decrease in the total of greenhouse plastic used.
On our members’ farms, over the last two seasons we have been committed to reducing the gauges in the plastic in our greenhouses. In 2022-2023, we ended with an additional 17% decrease in the total greenhouse plastic used, which together with the previous season, means that our greenhouse plastic consumption decreased by more than 30% in those two years.
In terms of our packaging, over the last three years we have relied on a packaging line called ‘Sustainable Fresón’, a registered brand in six languages that we use to sell fruit in a biodegradable package that allows a significant reduction in the plastic for our packaging year after year.
This is our commitment to environmentally responsible activities and to our surroundings, but it is not the only one in this sphere by any means. In addition to our entire line of sustainable packaging, we promote innovation in our members’ fields seeking a more efficient use of resources. We are striving to decrease water use and increase the use of renewable energies.
Following this objective and fully in line with the sustainable development goals and objectives set forth in the United Nations 2030 agenda, we have set our medium-term objective, reaching the 22 export countries where we do business with more sustainable logistics and locally sourced initiatives.
Sustainability
Water
use
Through SPRING we ensure that 100% of our partners make sustainable use of water resources by effectively applying a sustainable irrigation programme that minimizes our water footprint.
Biological control
Biological control is the cooperative’s priority pest control method with the goal of avoiding treatments with chemical pesticides, thus complying with the requirements of the European Union for 2030.
Reduced plastic use
We work continuously to decrease the use of plastic in the greenhouses in our members’ farms (more than 30% in the last two years) and reduce the plastic used in our packaging.
Social economy
Our business follows a social cooperative model that integrates agricultural producers. We promote good social practices in the field through GRASP and PRELSI.
Waste management
In both the fields and in our production centres we manage the waste used throughout the crop cycle, giving it a second life through our circular economy strategy.
Resource management
Thanks to the sustainable design of our production centres we have minimized the environmental impact, managing to produce green energy and reducing our carbon footprint.
