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Partnering for more sustainability in the fruit and vegetable industry

We drive sustainability within fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains

The Sustainability Initiative Fruit and Vegetables (SIFAV) is a membership-based initiative coordinated by IDH, that aims to actively contribute to more sustainable fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains globally. SIFAV unites private companies, civil society organisations and voluntary standards active in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. The SIFAV 2025 strategy is centred around three sustainability programs: environment, social and due diligence.

Private companies, civil society organisations and voluntary standards

Sustainability programs

SIFAV Sustainability Programs

The SIFAV initiative is centered around three programs: an environmental, a social, and a due diligence program. Within SIFAV, all private sector partners commit to reaching common sustainability targets within each of these three programs by 2025.

Environmental

Measure and reduce the product environmental footprint with a focus on carbon, water, and food loss and waste.

Read more about SIFAV Environmental Program

Social
Positive impact on salient issues in working conditions and living wages, focusing on verification of working conditions and decent and equal wages.

    Read more about SIFAV Social Program

    Due Diligence
    The foundational building block of SIFAV 2025, aimed at accelerating transparency and continuous improvement in both environmental and social topics.

    Read more about SIFAV Due Diligence Program

    Benefits of becoming a SIFAV partner

     

    SIFAV unites different actors in the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain around common sustainability objectives.

    By joining SIFAV, you will scale up your sustainable engagement through collaboration with like-minded ambitious companies within the sector – thus generating positive impact and value for your business.

    Driving action in supply chain

    Keeping momentum through joint targets, annual reporting, and enhanced sourcing requirements, while also engaging suppliers, and capacitating companies

    Monetary benefits and cost savings

    Realising monetary benefits through joint development of tools, trainings, and projects. Moreover, projects are eligible for IDH co-funding

    Setting sector-wide approach

    Driving industry change and pre-competitive alignment through joint approach setting

    Effectively mitigating risks through research and tools

    Mitigating risks for your own company by contributing to and benefitting from quality research and jointly developed tools, joint policies, actions, and studies

    Learning, expertise, and international cooperation

    Participate in exchange and learning sessions as well as working group to develop joint approaches and achieve results

    Clear and positive communication

    Showing that you are making a difference by proving progress on sustainability targets to stakeholders
    SIFAV kicks off groundbreaking Water Stewardship Project in Peru

    SIFAV kicks off groundbreaking Water Stewardship Project in Peru

    In October 2022, SIFAV initiated activities to support responsible water management in Ica, Peru. These include the implementation of the SIFAV Basket of Water Standards, water efficiency benchmarking, capacity building for responsible water stewardship by buyers, engagement with stakeholders in Ica, and the development of a future project portfolio.

    Voluntary standards to promote on-site water management

    Voluntary standards to promote on-site water management

    In October 2022, SIFAV initiated activities to support responsible water management in Ica, Peru. These include the implementation of the SIFAV Basket of Water Standards, water efficiency benchmarking, capacity building for responsible water stewardship by buyers, engagement with stakeholders in Ica, and the development of a future project portfolio.

    SIFAV introduces new policy on standards for Good Water Management

    SIFAV introduces new policy on standards for Good Water Management

    In October 2022, SIFAV initiated activities to support responsible water management in Ica, Peru. These include the implementation of the SIFAV Basket of Water Standards, water efficiency benchmarking, capacity building for responsible water stewardship by buyers, engagement with stakeholders in Ica, and the development of a future project portfolio.