Baruch College’s
Greenwashing Seminar
April 3, 2009
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
2
What is the Rainforest Alliance?
The Rainforest Alliance is an international, nonprofit
environmental and sustainable development organization.
We work to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable
livelihoods by transforming…
Consumer behavior
Land use practices
© Copyright 2007.
2007 Rainforest
RainforestAlliance
Alliance
Business practices
Sunday, July 17, 2016
3
Transforming the global marketplace
Forest Products: We have certified 3% of the
working forests (130 million acres) in 64
countries.
Agriculture: We have certified 2% of the
world’s coffee, tea, and cocoa, 15% of the
bananas; over 1.3 million acres, 33,000 farms.
(Coffee, citrus, bananas, pineapple, cacao,
flowers, macadamia nuts, ferns, passion fruit,
plantains.)
Tourism: Created Sustainable Tourism Network
of the Americas, recruited more than 40 tour
operators to source sustainably; trained more
than 4000 small and medium tourism operations
in nine countries.
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
4
What is Rainforest Alliance
certification?
As an independent, third party we award a seal of approval
to farm and forestry operations that meet our guidelines.
Rainforest Alliance guidelines are comprehensive and
balance ecological, economic and social considerations.
Our seal is a guarantee to consumers that the products
meet our set of criteria for sustainability.
Certification is a strictly voluntary, non-governmental
process.
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
5
Rainforest Alliance Corporate Partners
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
6
Chiquita
Invested $20 million over 9 years to convert 100%
of Chiquita-owned farms to Rainforest Alliance
CertifiedTM
As a result:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reforestation of 2000 acres in key buffer zones, using native
species
Recycle or reuse 80% of the plastic bags and twine used
Integrated Pest Management used on all farms; fewer
herbicides now used, resulting in $4.8 million annual
savings in agrochemical costs since 1997
$3.8 million annual savings from recycling of pallets,
packaging
$200 million in increased sales
Farm wages twice as high as local standard; child care and
environmental education provided on most farms
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
7
Green Building and
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Goldman Sachs has worked extensively with the Rainforest
Alliance on their new, LEED Gold certified, global
headquarters in lower Manhattan.
• Construction contracts require all FSC wood inputs
• Work throughout the supply network to secure and
verify necessary FSC FM and COC certifications
• Beyond construction, work continues - sourcing of
paneling, cabinets and office furniture
• Also help with certified paper, coffee and chocolate
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
8
Coping with Change
Managing Risks
Top motivators of companies investing in
sustainability and CSR:
1.
2.
3.
4.
controlling rising costs,
competitive advantage,
product differentiation and
growing demand.
All unlikely to decrease in economic downturn.
(Aberdeen)
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
9
Coping with Change
Managing Risks
Ernst and Young lists among top ten
strategic risks for global business in
2008 :
1. cost inflation,
2. energy shocks,
3. regulatory and compliance risk,
4. consumer demand shifts and
5. failing to anticipate greening trends.
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
10
Coping with Change
Managing Risks
More than half of 257 $1B plus companies surveyed
saw:
1.
2.
3.
Enhanced reputation
Cost reduction and
Revenue growth
…as top opportunities associated with greening
supply chains.
(Ernst & Young/Economist Intelligence Unit)
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
11
Reputation and
Revenue Growth
Green consumers with less to spend
requires:
1. Lots of "reputational capital," and
2. Getting sustainable products into
mainstream outlets at mainstream prices.
Which requires integrating sustainability
across the supply chain.
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
12
About Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is a 22 years old organization with work in 63 countries. There are 300
staff in 13 countries and our operating budget for FY09 is $30M. We have 35,000 members and
$3B in annual sales of Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM products. We have certified 33,000
thousand farms on 1.3 million acres and certified 130 million acres of forests in 1900
operations. We have also trained over 4000 tourism entrepreneurs in best practices for
sustainable tourism.
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016
13
Ana Paula Tavares
Senior Vice President
atavares@ra.org
www.rainforest-alliance.org
(212) 677-1900
© Copyright 2007 Rainforest Alliance
Sunday, July 17, 2016