The Dole Way Our commitment to provide safe, high-quality fresh produce that's good for people, for nature, and for food - Dole.com
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The Dole Way Our commitment to provide safe, high-quality fresh produce that’s good for people, for nature, and for food. Dole Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report 2020
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Letter from our CEO
Dole is committed to being Over a century ago, Dole was
This recent progress builds on a long
legacy of responsible behavior at Dole,
thanks to the know-how and commitment
Without a doubt sustainability and respect
for human rights are fundamental to Dole’s
way of operating and are essential to the
honest and transparent about founded on the principle of
“quality, quality, quality.”
of our local teams working together
globally, including the significant advances
long-term growth of our business. This
should always be top-of-mind and part
our efforts and our impacts.
made over previous years in improving of what we do every day, throughout
This commitment is still just as true today. labor and environmental standards within our value chain, wherever we operate.
Our dedication to quality drove the the banana supply chain.
Following the principles of our founder,
company to control the process of growing Dole believes that our scale and James Dole, we have been leaders and
and delivering products to consumers and experience as a global leader in fresh innovators in our industry and have taken
helped build our strong reputation, making produce means we can and must be an seriously the many challenges facing our
Dole a leading brand worldwide. important actor and agent for change business and our world. As has always
Today the quality concept is broader by creating products and services that been, our journey and dedication to being
than the product itself. It also includes society values, establishing primary jobs, a responsible corporate steward of our
sustainability, transparency, corporate efficiently using resources and leveraging communities will continue into our future
responsibility and trust. All of this is at the our research capabilities and partnerships and Dole will continuously live up to our
heart of our quality promise to consumers, to find solutions to challenges affecting promise to be a good neighbor in the areas
retail and food service customers, food safety and supply. in which we grow, and a good citizen in all
suppliers, parents, governments, places where we operate.
To support these ambitions Dole has
NGOs and all other stakeholders. developed a new framework called The
We strive for open dialogue — including Dole Way and a new set of sustainability
all critical voices — and are pledged to goals that will add momentum across our
continuously improving opportunities operations, worldwide. Rooted in Dole’s
for communities around the world. values and legacy of sustainable action,
Stakeholders expect this of us. They the new framework and goals are designed
to align with our internal business Johan Linden
want us to help find solutions and to
objectives and global frameworks such President and Chief Executive Officer,
make a measurable and meaningful
as the United Nations Sustainability Dole Food Company
difference for people and the planet.
Development Goals (UN SDGs). Together
Dole is committed to being honest they make it clearer than ever what our
and transparent about our efforts and commitments are and where we plan to
our impacts, so I am pleased to share focus our efforts in the coming years —
with you Dole’s Sustainability Report for people, for nature, for food.
that details both qualitatively and
quantitatively our sustainability
progress through the end of 2019.
3
1
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
About Dole
What’s inside
A worldwide
commitment to quality Dole fresh produce by volume
sold globally in 2018
2019 revenue by produce Contents
Our Approach 4
Fresh pack vegetables
(whole vegetables) Fresh pack
6%
vegetables
(whole vegetables) For
Dole Food Company is one of
the world’s largest producers and Value added 7% Bananas
people
vegetables
10
marketers of high-quality fresh
fruit and vegetables. We’re an GRAPHIC TO BE UPDATED
20%
industry leader in many of the 42%
products we sell.
9%
For
Our team of employees, growers, packers, processors,
shippers, and marketers is committed to consistently Value Added
Others
15% nature
providing safe, high-quality fresh fruit, vegetables vegetables 7%
16
Diversified fruits
and food products. Dole’s dedication to quality is
a commitment solidly backed by: comprehensive 21% 12% Diversified
programs for food safety, scientific crop protection fruits Pineapples
Others
programs, stringent quality control measures, decades
of farming expertise, state-of-the-art production and 10%
transportation technologies, research and innovations
for continuous improvement and value-adding
180+ For
products, a global focus on healthy produce
and dedication to the safety of our employees, Dole products are sold in
food
communities and the environment.
Dole has three main business divisions globally:
Dole Tropical Fruits (based in Costa Rica), which
grows and distributes bananas, pineapples and
80
countries worldwide
28
other tropical fruits; Dole Diversified (based in Chile),
which focuses on grapes, apples and cherries; and
Dole Fresh Vegetables (based in California, USA),
which supplies fresh vegetables and packaged
salads within North America. About this report
This report summarizes key corporate responsibility and sustainability-
related impacts and initiatives of Dole Food Company between
2017–2019, reported as of December 31, 2019. Unless otherwise
stated, the information contained in this report pertains only to Dole’s
wholly owned operations and the company’s own employee workforce.
Topics addressed in this report were selected in reference to the Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework.
2 Dole Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report 2019 3
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Our sustainable legacy
Dole’s focus on improving lives Key moments in our journey to date
and respecting nature through
our work has its roots in the
early years of the company. 1988
14001 2001
2012
ISO
Adela Rodríguez School The DALE Foundation
In the early part of the 20th century, built in Honduras is created in Ecuador First certification of
Dole’s evolution as a large-scale producer
and distributor of tropical fruits took the
1900 Vicente Piedrahita
a Dole-owned farm by
Fairtrade USA
company into isolated locations with First shipment of Standard 1998 School built
limited infrastructure. Growing our Fruit bananas from Honduras 2020
business in these areas presented both to New Orleans 1981 1994 Dole is the first
agricultural producer Dole unveils
a necessity and an opportunity to do Dole and other partners its refreshed social
First to in the world to be
much more than planting and picking fruit.
It meant that our presence could make a 1927 introduce
refrigerated
open Recyplast, which
turns bags and twine
certified to the
environmental
responsibility
and sustainability
big difference to local economies and that Mazapan School containers from banana farming framework
management
we could make an even bigger difference built in Honduras for fruit into useful products standard ISO 14001
by directly supporting employees’ transportation
and communities’ health, education in 1981
and other needs.
Going beyond the normal expectations
became an integral part of Dole’s way of
doing business. And that continues to
define how we go about our work today.
1924 1960 1997 2000 2010 2013
The Vicente Introduction of the After pioneering organic Dole is the first agricultural Dole’s container fleet Dole introduce a label
d’Antoni Hospital is cardboard box to banana procurement in company to have one of its renewal program, that lets European
built in Honduras, transport bananas, 1995, Dole planted the divisions certified to social initiated five years consumers go online to
providing medical reducing waste in first organic bananas accountability standard earlier, allows for the track the path of bananas
care to farm the supply chain in Honduras SA 8000 13,000-unit fleet to
1
workers and
SA 8000
achieve the milestone
ST
communities
of only 2 tons of
CO2e emitted from
refrigerants per
1991 container, down from
over 20 in 2004
Dole launches the “Dole
5 A Day” campaign to
encourage kids and their
families to eat nutritious
fresh produce every day
4 5
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Our new framework
Our 2030 goals
The Dole Way
We’re committed to growing, processing Dole’s new framework paves the way for This is the first time Dole has set In addition to our enterprise-level goals,
and distributing our produce responsibly, further improvements in areas where we enterprise-wide sustainability goals – an each Dole business division is also working
For over 150 years, Dole has and this is our promise – today and for believe we can make the biggest positive To complement our new important milestone on our sustainability to achieve its own set of goals, tailored
delivered nutritious, high- every generation to come. Because impacts. Developed in coordination with framework, we’ve introduced journey as a company. The goals were to the specifics of the produce they grow,
quality produce around the being a responsible business is second Dole’s three main business divisions, a new set of sustainability developed in workshops attended by pack or distribute and the needs of their
nature to us. the framework is intended to be easily representatives from Dole’s three divisions local communities.
world while preserving the understood yet thorough enough goals designed to translate plus Dole Corporate, which means they
We’re making it clearer than ever what
land from which it is grown, our commitments are as a company
that there can be no doubt about “The Dole Way” focus areas reflect our combined ambitions and
where we’re making a stand. commitment to making a positive impact.
as well as supporting and – and where we plan to focus our into tangible action.
We’ll share updates on our progress in
enhancing global communities. efforts into the future.
future Dole sustainability reports.
For people For food
Social impact Food safety Health and nutrition
Goal
Devote at least $0.07 per box of Donate 2,500 tons of fresh fruit Implement blockchain Reach 750 million cumulative
Dole-branded bananas and and produce to underserved product-tagging technology impressions annually across all
pineapples sold to fund local communities by 2025 and/or advanced traceability of Dole’s health, nutrition and
community impact projects for solutions in all Dole divisions wellness education initiatives
the next five years, resulting in a by 2025 by 2025
For people
cumulative social investment of
$50 million by 2025
Our “For people” goals expand on Dole’s Dole is already participating in a major blockchain rollout in
Notes on
progress
long-running social impact programs which include the work of the U.S. – in support of supply chain transparency and food safety.
foundations in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia with the participation of
We commit to: our fruit suppliers.
To read more, turn to page 33.
Improve the livelihoods For an update, turn to pages 14-15.
of individuals across our These goals support UN This goal supports UN
UN
SDGs
entire business – from Sustainable Development Sustainable Development
Goals 2 and 3. Goals 3 and 9.
farmers to customers
For nature
Water Farm-level GHG emissions Shipping GHG emissions Waste and recycling
Goal
Achieve 100% optimized water practices in Dole Achieve net zero carbon Reduce emissions from Ensure that all Dole
operated farms and packing facilities by 2025 emissions from Dole- shipping by 30% by 2030 tropical fruits packaging
managed operations (from 2015 levels) materials are either
For nature For food Each of our divisions is defining what “water
by 2030
This goal reflects the scale Building on recent large
recyclable or compostable
by 2025
We’re testing several
Notes on
progress
optimization” looks like in its operations and has of Dole’s ambition to make scale investments in our options for compostable
We commit to: We commit to: set specific targets, including: a real difference on climate fleet, we are committed alternatives to conventional
• Diversified: 100% of drip irrigation and 25% change. By 2025, we will to making significant consumer-level packaging
Protect the natural Provide retailers and assess the feasibility of reductions in emissions for fruit products, as well
less water in fruit processing annually.
environments in which we consumers with safe, healthy, • Tropical Fruits: Implement water recycling systems
potentially expanding this from our shipping. as options for returnable
goal beyond the farm-level containers.
operate to reduce our impact nutritious and responsibly in 100% of all Dole-owned banana and pineapple to include Scope 1 and 2
Learn more on our progress
to date on page 25. Learn more about our
and strengthen habitats grown food packing facilities, and design and install fully-automated emissions enterprise-wide.
water irrigation systems in 50% of the areas under waste and recycling
irrigation (aim to reach 100% by 2030). Learn more on page 24. efforts on page 26.
• Fresh Vegetables: 75% drip irrigation
For an update on water stewardship at Dole,
turn to page 20.
These goals support
UN
SDGs
UN Sustainable
Development
Goals 6, 12, 13, and 17.
6 7
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Engaging with stakeholders
Dole engages with others across the business,
governmental and the nonprofit spheres
– to find solutions to pressing issues in
the food and agriculture industries.
Multi-stakeholder initiatives Sustainability partnerships
World Banana Forum Global Food Safety Initiative WWF GIZ
Since 2009, the World Banana Forum has played a key role Dole is a board-level participant and takes part in working Dole, WWF and Germany’s largest retailer, EDEKA, worked With GIZ, a Germany-government agency that specializes in
in helping the banana industry to maintain industry-wide groups that set the standards issued by this global initiative, together to bring sustainably certified WWF labeled bananas sustainable development, Dole has completed a Public/Private
dialogue on key topics and challenges, including sustainability which convenes key stakeholders in the food industry and grown in Ecuador and Colombia to EDEKA stores. It was the Partnership project for integrated sustainable management of a
issues. Dole is a founding member of the Forum and engages with governments in over 60 countries to drive first time WWF has put its name on a conventionally grown Dole-owned banana plantation in Costa Rica – a model that may
participates in its steering committee and in several continuous improvement of food safety systems around food product. be applied to additional sites in the future and which included
working groups. the world. efforts in biodiversity, renewable energy, environmental
education, reforestation and climate quality.
IDH: The Sustainable Trade Initiative Center for Produce Safety
With support from several European governments, IDH Dole is on the board of this industry-wide partnership, which
brings together companies, governments, nonprofits and brings together leaders from business, government, scientific Produce for Better Health Foundation Action for Healthy Kids
other stakeholders to find innovative green and socially and academic communities to identify and advance the research Dole is a board-level member of the Produce for Better Through a strategic partnership with Action for Healthy Kids
responsible approaches to economic growth. Since 2014, needed to continuously enhance food safety. Dole also takes Health Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit that promotes that began in 2019, Dole is delivering a new digital nutrition
Dole has been active in Sustainability Initiative Fruits part in a research-related working group. increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. toolkit that provides 140,000 parents and educators with
and Vegetables (SIFAV), which is coordinated by IDH. dozens of interactive resources to support healthy eating,
reaching more than 22 million children in the United States.
Musa Breeding Corporation
Dole, in conjunction with other industry partners and the
Honduran Research Foundation (FHIA), is working on the
development of banana varieties that are resistant to Tropical
Race 4 (TR4), a disease affecting banana crops in several
production regions.
8 9
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
For
People Dole is committed to continuously
improving the lives and livelihoods
of people and communities across
our entire company.
Dole employees around the world share
a common purpose – providing nutritious,
high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables to
help feed the world. Together, we take
pride in making that happen, every day.
Our main core values of Integrity, Loyalty,
Commitment and Respect are there to
guide every decision we make, and to
inspire everyone at Dole to constantly
go further in positively impacting people’s
lives through our work.
Everywhere Dole operates, we have policies
that respect human rights and the International
Labor Organization (ILO) conventions. And we
take steps not only to support our employees
with education, training and good working
conditions, but also to positively impact their
families and the wider communities, too.
10 11
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Supporting employees Good working
conditions
Training and career development Workplace equality Fair employment practices
In many rural agricultural areas Education and continuous training are Non-discrimination in the workplace Dole wants to be viewed as the Dole does not engage in or condone Understanding
cornerstones of Dole’s approach to talent is a hallmark of Dole’s working practices, forced labor of any kind, and everyone
around the world, there is little management. Dole has a longstanding as required by the Dole Code of Conduct.
employer of choice everywhere throughout the company’s workforce employees’ living
economic development and culture of helping employees to acquire In the U.S., for example, Dole voluntarily we operate around the world. is required to comply with all relevant conditions
limited job opportunities. Dole’s new skills and move up the ranks within implements an affirmative action plan So complying with applicable laws and regulations related to child labor.
the company. Talent development is to promote equal opportunities and Our Code of Conduct prohibits Dole
presence has the potential to managed at the divisional and site level, conducts an annual audit to assess labor codes is often just the from doing business with any individual
Dole is the first agricultural
company in the world to apply
make a real difference in our with each division offering programs progress against the plan. The plan beginning of what we do. or company who is engaged in child labor,
the Oxford University-developed
employees’ lives. We see this and opportunities that are relevant calls for hiring that reflects the local slavery or human trafficking.
Multi-Dimensional Poverty
to its workforce. demographics in the communities around
as one of our most important Health, safety and welfare In Latin America and South America Index (MPI) to its own workers.
Dole’s facilities, and each facility sets
At Dole’s salad processing plant in Dole is committed to providing a safe, specifically, Dole’s management practices
social impacts – and aim to Soledad, California, for example,
targets based on those demographics.
include checks to avoid child labor, and
The MPI – which is the United
healthy working environment to all Nation’s official poverty index –
cultivate good employee employees are offered free English employees, whatever their role. Farms there are clauses in suppliers’ contracts
was originally created to analyze
relationships that will grow and high school classes each weekday and facilities are regularly audited to check requiring them not to engage in these
poverty country-by-country, and
afternoon, as well as skills training in areas for worker welfare, such as ensuring that practices. Where relevant, Dole also
and develop over many years such as packaging machine operation, Supporting female someone at the site is clearly responsible provides training to ensure site managers
the methodology has been
pioneered by Costa Rica for use by
of service within the company. forklift driving and supervisory skills.
workers in Costa Rica for workers’ health, safety and welfare and understand these issues. In reality, forced
companies.
that workers have access to clean drinking or child labor is not prevalent in our
water and other basic amenities. In Dole’s industry, in part because governments We are interviewing every Dole
In Costa Rica, Dole continues in key fruit and vegetable producing worker in Costa Rica. The objective
Tropical Fruits Division, these checks are
to recruit female workers on countries have implemented stringent is to better understand their
managed under our own integrated
9.79
pineapple plantations, in an regulations and laws to prevent socio-economic conditions –
management system, and many Dole
effort to make pineapple these practices. information that could help the
and supplier sites around the world
cultivation more gender inclusive. company to identify the most
are audited against social standards
By actively recruiting female and company requirements. Freedom of association vulnerable populations and prioritize
As of 2018, Dole workers, Dole aims to support efforts to improve their livelihoods.
In Ecuador and Peru, the DALE Foundation, Dole respects the International Labor
employees globally had gender equity in an area of To that end, Dole plans to involve
with the support of Dole and independent Organization (ILO) conventions on
Costa Rican agriculture that has various national stakeholders, from
been with the company growers, has a program to help growers freedom of association. Dole employees
government agencies to private
traditionally been dominated by are free to join labor unions and to
for an average of all-male crews. Across our four
enhance the health and safety programs organizations and social services
at their sites. The foundation provides participate in collective bargaining through
9.79 years. pineapple plantations in the country, representatives of their own choosing.
agencies that might have programs
infrastructure to two schools, runs courses in place to assist. The MPI program
90% of the harvest crews included More than 11,000 Dole employees around
and workshops to improve health and might also be expanded to other
female members as of early 2019. the world were members of trade unions as
safety for households, and helps the local Dole locations across Latin America
community develop small businesses to of the end of 2018. We have many ongoing
in the future.
forward livelihoods. agreements in place, and we maintain
positive relationships with the unions
and other labor organizations.
Fair wages
Dole’s employees always receive the
legally required compensation and Union members by location
benefits. Throughout Latin America, the Europe 345
wages paid by Dole are on average 20% Latin America 8,675
above the legal minimum. Dole has also Chile 112
been actively involved in living wage
United States 1,712
initiatives in the produce industry,
South Africa 47
as new methodologies emerge and the
awareness grows around the issue.
12 13
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Community development DALE Foundation:
Improving lives in Latin America
In Costa Rica, three community centers The DALE Foundation’s impact:
Health, education and
have been built through a Fairtrade
Nearly 20 years ago, Dole and
GOAL • Over 1,604,900 health interventions
7,700
program established by Dole and its By 2025, our goal is to expand carried out since 2000
entrepreneurship are the employees. The centers offer academic a group of independent growers the role of the DALE Foundation • 80,000 people directly benefit each
key focus areas for Dole’s training, occupational courses and health in Ecuador set up a foundation throughout the Latin year, across more than 100 communities
fairs – open to everyone in the community. American region.
community development efforts. school kits were donated with a clear purpose: find ways • In 2018, over 16,000 people took part in
Dole gives back to the children of Dole to improve the lives of workers the foundation’s training program, which
In the U.S., Dole’s farms and facilities covered health prevention, environment
support community initiatives that have At the corporate level, Dole’s sponsorships employees in Latin America and communities in and The foundation has established two
protection, entrepreneurship, and more
and philanthropic giving focus mainly schools since its founding and supports
been nominated by employees or where in 2018, as part of an around the companies’ farms others by providing infrastructure • 2 schools in which approximately
there is a clear local need. In Salinas, on health and exercise. For example,
annual initiative. and facilities. improvements and health programs 800 students are educated each year
California, for example, employee-led Dole has sponsored marathons, races
and cycling events. for students.
teams take part in annual “Relay for Life”
The DALE Foundation continues its work
events to benefit the American Cancer Another of the foundation’s key programs
to fulfill that mission today in both Ecuador
Society. And at our salad processing plant is called Training for Entrepreneurship.
GOALS and Peru. In 2000, the foundation adapted
in Ohio, employees have taken part in an The objective is to train people so that
mobile medical units with the objective
annual ALS fundraising walk to discover Devote at least $0.07 per box of they can establish a small business and
of bringing health to the farthest places
treatments and a cure for Amyotrophic Dole-branded bananas and thus improve family income and at the
where our workers live. They also
Lateral Sclerosis. Dole was an official local pineapples sold to fund local same time improve their quality of life.
have been used to offer emergency
sponsor of the event in 2017 and 2018. community impact projects for the The foundation also offers workshops
medical interventions in the wake of
next five years, resulting in a and talks on topics that are relevant
Dole’s Fresh Vegetables Division makes events such as floods. As of 2019, there
cumulative social investment of to communities.
annual donations to the United Way are a total of 18 medical facilities in
$50 million by 2025. operation, five of which are mobile.
and provides a payroll deduction option
for employee donations. The business Donate 2,500 tons of fresh fruit This service benefits not only agricultural
also supports the Boys and Girls Club by and produce to underserved workers and their families, but also
sponsoring an annual fundraising event. communities by 2025. others in the community who need
medical assistance.
New community centers by and for Dole pineapple workers
In 2017, Dole and Fairtrade USA
inaugurated two new community
are earned with every purchase. After
four years, the workers chose to invest
$36M
centers at Dole’s Muelle and Bosque these funds into community centers.
The DALE Foundation has
pineapple farms in Costa Rica. The farmworkers identified a critical invested over $36 million
The community centers were made
need and invested in a project that to date, mainly in education,
will serve the community for medical and community
possible by Fairtrade purchases at
decades to come.
Whole Foods Market stores, which development programs,
drive additional money to pineapple To date, more than 8,400 people
since 2005.
farmworkers to invest in projects have benefited from activities held
of their choosing. at the community centers, including
health campaigns and fairs as well as
To earn Fairtrade certification, farms must
educational and technical programs
adhere to rigorous social, environmental
impacting our workers, families and
and economic standards. Once certified as
local communities.
Fairtrade, Community Development Funds
14 15
Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
For decades, Dole has been
innovating to push the boundaries
of sustainable agriculture –
to find more efficient and more
environmentally sustainable
ways to grow fruits and vegetables
to help feed the world.
Today, Dole’s researchers and growers
are working harder than ever to scale
For
up past innovations and implement techniques,
varieties and practices that can increase yields,
improve soil health and/or optimize the use
of water, energy, conventional fertilizers and
crop protection products.
In nature, everything is connected.
So, often a single agricultural idea turns
Nature
out to have multiple environmental and
commercial benefits.
16 17Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Agricultural innovation Finding solutions to
pests and diseases
The main objective: continuous In the U.S., Dole researchers are
agricultural science and technology experimenting with ways to increase
Continuous improvement is an innovations that can help our growers plant density for vegetable crops such Much of Dole’s agricultural
integral part of The Dole Way. to increase yields and produce fruits and as cauliflower, lettuce, celery and research has focused on ways
Dole’s Tropical Fruits Division, vegetables more efficiently, which are romaine with the goal of reducing total to address pests and crop
often better for the planet and for society acres farmed along with the amount
based in Costa Rica, has had – not least because it can mean using of water, fertilizer and crop protection diseases – to keep them under
an active research and less water, energy and land to produce that’s needed per acre. The amount control, which can help to
nutritious food to help feed the world’s of tractor work required at the end
innovation department for reduce potential food loss.
growing population. of each season is also being reduced,
almost 60 years – a rarity in the leading to a smaller carbon footprint.
Sometimes the innovation takes the form For decades, Dole has been refining the
industry as a whole. Dole also of new varieties of produce. In Chile, for Dole researchers in the U.S. and Costa techniques growers use to protect tropical
has research teams in Chile, example, there have been new varieties Rica are also experimenting with the fruit crops from diseases such as black
of grapes (Autumn Crisp and Sweet use of GPS on field prep tractors for sigatoka and pests including nematodes
focusing on innovation in
Globe), cherries (Regina) and blueberries vegetables and pineapple crops to increase and weevils, as part of an integrated pest
deciduous fruits, and in the (Top Shelf), all with higher yields, sweeter tillage efficiencies – for a more precise and management system.
U.S., supporting Dole’s Fresh taste and firmer fruit that lasts longer. efficient use of heavy farm equipment
More recently, Dole and its partners have
resulting in better care of the soil and
Vegetables business. been working to address the potential
decreased fuel consumption.
spread of Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4,
or TR4, a soil-borne disease that has
affected banana crops on several
continents in recent years.
Organic or conventional produce?
We think the best answer is a better version of both Taking action to prevent
the spread of TR4
At Dole, we are committed to Since TR4 started moving west from Asia
continuously improving both our in 2012, Dole and the industry began to
conventional and organic farming develop a variety of measures aimed at
techniques to make them more containing the disease. Following the
sustainable. discovery of TR4 in northern Colombia in
2019, we have reinforced the protocols in Developing a TR4-resistant
In our tropical fruits business, for order to prevent it from spreading further. banana variety
example, we work under the principles
of Integrated Pest Management, For example, we have restricted access to Dole is actively engaged in the effort to
reducing the need for crop protection our farms and have issued strict guidelines ensure long-term sustainability of banana
products. We look for ways to apply and procedures for any travel by Dole supply, despite the threat of TR4.
or adapt organic farming techniques personnel to countries and locations Since 2016, Dole has been part of a
to conventional crops, to improve where TR4 is known to be present. consortium that is working, with the
our agricultural practices, and to Meanwhile, each Dole banana farm has Honduran Research Foundation (FHIA),
apply insights gained in conventional been updating and, where necessary, on the development of banana varieties
farming to help organic operations strengthening its site-specific TR4 that are resistant to TR4. Breeding a
scale to meet increasing demand. prevention plans and activities. The plans new kind of banana is painstaking work,
are risk-based and rooted in the layout and few organizations have as much
and location of the farm. experience in this area as FHIA. The
research team is making good progress,
Dole also continues to share best practices having made more than 10 million hand
with independent growers and to engage pollinations and thus bringing a new
with governments, multi-stakeholder variety ever closer to becoming a reality.
initiatives and industry partners – to
ensure that our actions are coordinated
with the wider response, both in Latin
America and globally.
18 19Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Water stewardship Soil conservation
Under drip irrigation, plants are fed exactly Pineapple growing practices
Finding ways to reduce water
the amount of water and fertilizer they
Soil is the most important asset In 2008, Dole began implementing and Soil health techniques
25%
need for optimal growth. By early 2019, requiring growers to make a fundamental
use on farms and at packing the rollout was about 90% complete. on any farm, and good soil change in pineapple production in Costa on banana plantations
and processing facilities In South Africa, over 75% of Dole’s grape conservation practices are a key Rica. Instead of spraying the plants with
is a challenge Dole has been farms use either drip or micro irrigation. part of sustainable agriculture. herbicide and burning them after a harvest
Data from a variety of sources, including less water is needed (which had been the common industry
working on for many years probes positioned at six depths in the soil, when modern drip practice for many years), farms began
In many locations, Dole has been farming
– with steady progress are continually monitored in order to irrigation techniques the same land for decades. Looking after shredding the plants, incorporating the
that continues today. schedule irrigation at times and in amounts the soil is part of the job, because healthier organic matter into the soil and using
that will be best for the plants. Water for
are applied. micro-organisms to help break down this
soil can mean healthier crops with better
these farms comes from the Orange quality, size, color, taste and shelf life. green matter faster, adding nutrients
Water recycling systems River, a sustainable water source that to Sound soil conservation and management to the soil.
A good example is water recycling. date has not been affected by droughts practices have allowed Dole farms to Over time, Dole and its growers began
A banana packing plant with a water that have occurred elsewhere in South consistently produce high yields, healthier to see significant improvements in soil
reuse system uses up to 80% less water Africa. In 2018, the farms used In our Tropical Fruits Division, research plants, and maintain good soil while health. Organic matter in the soil increased The application of beneficial
than a facility without one installed. In approximately 11,500 cubic meters of and innovation professionals design minimizing environmental impact. Good by about 25%, while the need for micro-organisms at Dole banana
Dole’s Tropical Fruits Division, which source water, substantially less than the systems to optimize water use, both soil practices mean less erosion, which is synthetic fertilizers decreased. plantations in Latin America is
grows and distributes bananas, pineapples 15,000 cubic meters permitted by the at company-owned farms and those of good for the surrounding environment. showing promising signs that
and other tropical fruits, 78% of packing relevant authority – and a testament to independent growers. Field research increased soil health can increase
plants utilize water reuse systems. the ongoing water management efforts helps to determine the exact water Crop rotation at vegetable farms
yields and reduce the need for
in place at these farms. requirements for each banana plant as Vegetable farms operated by Dole use synthetic fertilizers.
both crop and land rotation to maintain
Irrigation design and techniques In areas of our Fresh Vegetables Division
well as the optimal calibration of soil
At our farm in La Gomera in
moisture probes, allowing growers to soil health and support optimal yields.
Dole’s Diversified Division has been where drip irrigation would provide Dole’s researchers continually experiment Guatemala, Dole has successfully
establish irrigation programs that are
working to change over all of its optimum quality or yields, 60% of the with new rotation practices to discover introduced a practice of using
the best for the crop while saving water.
agricultural sites (both those owned by acreage operated by Dole had been which provide the best organic matter and micro-organisms to break down
In banana farming, the water savings
Dole and those of independent growers) converted to drip irrigation by 2018, are best suited to suppress diseases that crop residue – the leaves and parts
from the use of these modern techniques
to drip irrigation, which uses 25% less with a goal of achieving 75% by 2025. may be present in the growing area. of banana plants that stay behind in
is estimated to be at least 25%.
water compared to older methods. the field after harvest – improving
In Hawaii, all Dole-owned farms use plants’ root systems and increasing
water-efficient drip irrigation. A real-time absorption of nutrients, for increased
soil moisture monitoring system helps yields. Since the original trial in 2017,
growers to determine when and how the technique is being tested at
much to irrigate. Pineapples are planted banana farms across the region
under a mulch film, which reduces to see if those farms can achieve
evaporation, meaning less water is needed, similar results.
and all water used for Dole’s Hawaiian
pineapple crops is recycled or re-used At a Dole organic banana plantation
surface water rather than groundwater. in Manabí, Ecuador, growers and
researchers have been experimenting
with the reintroduction of biological
activity in compost as a way to
GOAL naturally improve soil health.
Achieve 100% optimized water
practices in Dole-managed farms
and packing facilities by 2025.
20 21Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Responsible crop protection Protecting nature
A targeted herbicide application system
developed in partnership with a local
university in Costa Rica has reduced the In some locations, Dole’s Protecting biodiversity in Costa Rica
use of herbicides on some Dole tropical agricultural operations are lands around the plantation. This
fruit farms by up to 60% compared to near or adjacent to forests, first-of-its-kind study documented
a 2007 baseline.
watersheds or other natural the presence of at least 13 species of
Advances in planting density, crop yields amphibians and reptiles, eight species
and crop rotation practices can all have
environments. of mammals plus a variety of beetles
a positive impact on the amount of and aquatic micro-invertebrates.
Good agricultural practices, implemented
crop protection products that are
in line with applicable laws and best Researchers also found that forest
needed overall.
practices, help to prevent negative land within the Estrella Valley
impacts to these habitats. plantation boundaries make the site
Safe use of crop effectively carbon neutral. In Costa
protection products For example, careful soil preparation Rica, almost one-third of the land
techniques are not only good for the farm Dole owns is covered by forests
Users of crop protection products receive At Valle La Estrella in Costa Rica, Dole,
itself, but can also help to prevent erosion or other natural ecosystems.
training on the safe use and handling GIZ (a German government agency)
that could impact aquatic life in nearby
of agrichemicals and undergo medical and local NGOs have completed the The Green Star study provides a
rivers and streams. In many locations,
examination and cholinesterase “Green Star” three-year study into baseline for additional monitoring and
Dole maintains forests or other natural
monitoring (if applicable). At each farm, the biodiversity in Estrella Valley, could offer a model for similar studies
buffer zones between the crops and
management system practices thoroughly where a Dole-owned banana at agricultural sites in the region and
surrounding ecosystems.
define the safety precautions that must plantation sits adjacent to the Hitoy beyond. By raising awareness both
be followed when crop protection Cerere Biological Reserve. locally and internationally of the
products are applied, and audits are biodiversity found in these areas,
Community volunteers were given
regularly performed to check that the the study will help to ensure these
training and sent into the field for three
procedures are being followed. habitats are valued and well cared
consecutive years to catalog animal
biodiversity on non-agricultural for into the future.
For example, to help eradicate European
grapevine moth populations at farms in
Dole’s company-wide policy Chile, Dole growers have introduced
is to use crop protection pheromones designed to prevent male
products only when and where moths from being able to find mates Dole maintains over
3,000
and procreate.
necessary, and always with the
Research innovations have helped to
proper care and in accordance further optimize the use of crop protection
with applicable laws. products. On Dole tropical fruit
plantations, for example, switching to hectares (over 7,000 acres)
Whenever possible, Dole growers more precise application methods has of forest on its banana
make use of natural approaches for helped to cut the use of post-harvest and pineapple farms.
controlling pests and plant diseases, fungicides by about 80% compared to
including biological controls (such as a 2000 baseline.
beneficial predatory wasps that attack
certain harmful insect pests) and
bioantagonists (micro-organisms
that infect specific pests).
22 23Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Minimizing our carbon footprint
For example, one of our salad plants At Dole-owned farms in Hawaii, for Reducing CO2 during shipping
is installing wind turbines that, when example, over a third of crops are irrigated
Dole recognizes that climate operational, are expected to generate using a zero-electricity gravity-charged
Research suggests that transportation is
the biggest source of CO2 emissions in
change is real and that the 5.4MW of low-carbon energy – 68% system, and at Dole’s fresh fruit packing Dole’s farm-to-retailer value chain, in some
food and agriculture industries of the facility’s energy needs. At Dole plant in Wahiawa, photovoltaic panels cases comprising up to about two-thirds of
production facilities in California, provide 33% of electricity. A new system
have a role to play in mitigating North Carolina and Ohio, more than that converts waste biomass to electricity
the carbon footprint. Specialized shipping
and distribution companies carry out much
its effects. 4,500 light bulbs have been changed is expected to be ready for use in 2020, of this work, but Dole has its own fleet of
to energy-saving LEDs. further reducing Dole’s climate footprint 15 ships and about 15,000 refrigerated
In Dole’s agricultural and office-based in Hawaii. containers, delivering fresh tropical fruit
operations, we’ve taken many steps to Clean energy on Dole’s farms In Costa Rica, Dole has partnered with from Latin America to North America and
improve efficiency and save energy. At the farm level, Dole continues to take Europe. That gives us an opportunity to
a local solar provider to install over 2,500
many steps to reduce the carbon footprint solar panels at four banana packing plants make changes that can make a significant
of agricultural operations, such as and the farm office – to supply over 90% and positive impact.
replacing older farm equipment with of the electricity needs at these sites. Dole continually renews its fleet with The International Maritime Organization
newer, more efficient equipment and
more efficient vessels. In 2017, we brought has set a limit for sulphur in fuel oil used
adopting methods that require fewer
three new ships into the fleet, reducing on board ships (for ships operating outside Tech-led delivery
fertilizer and crop protection products – GOAL
which ultimately means fewer emissions.
carbon emissions on our Pacific Coast
distribution route by about 30% on a per
of designated emission control areas)
effective from January 1, 2020. Dole fully
efficiencies in Chile
Achieve net zero carbon emissions at
the farm-level from Dole-managed unit basis and reducing total emissions embraces and supports this new standard,
Dole’s business in Chile has
operations by 2030. from distribution of Central and South which should have major health and
introduced software that’s helping
See page 7 for details. American-grown tropical fruits in the environmental benefits. To comply with
to increase efficiency in the local
U.S. by about 10%. the new standard, Dole is installing
distribution of vegetables.
scrubber systems on five of the vessels
We have also been replacing the
it uses to transport tropical fruit. The Quadminds software uses an
containers we use to transport tropical
algorithm to select the best routes
fruits to the U.S., with about 500 newer
Moving fruit with electric trucks – which means food can arrive
and more efficient units rotated into the
fresher and with fewer emissions
fleet each year. In 2004, the container At the Port of San Diego in California,
from deliveries. It’s estimated that
fleet had 24.3 tons of CO2-equivalent Dole has introduced zero-emission electric
at least two fewer vehicles are now
emissions per unit per year, and by 2018 trucks as part of a demonstration project
needed to cover the same number
that number was reduced to 2.6 tons that will help the San Diego Port Tenants
of Dole deliveries, with up to 8%
– with a total reduction of 244,000 metric Association fulfill its plan to reduce
less carbon emissions as a result.
tons, compared to 2004 performance, greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by
which is roughly equal to removing 2020 and 25% by 2035. The electric
53,000 average-sized passenger cars trucks replaced diesel-fueled trucks used
from the roads in a given year. in the loading and unloading of bananas
and pineapples, saving an estimated
40.76 metric tons of GHGs annually and
GOAL helping the port to achieve a projected
total reduction of 944 metric tons.
Reduce emissions from shipping
by 30% by 2030 (from 2015 levels).
24 25Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Waste reduction Our standards
and recycling and certifications
Dole salad processing facilities in North Sustainability certifications Sustainability in
The U.S. Embassy
Carolina and Ohio have introduced reuse
Dole’s senior leadership sets Third-party certifications and audits, along Dole’s supply chain
and recycling of cardboard cartons and with stringent Dole-implemented standards
in Costa Rica presented its bins. Fiber bins used for transporting the company’s approach to In addition to Dole’s own farms,
developed over many years, help our the company sources fresh fruit and
first-ever Environmental bulk vegetables are reused three times, corporate responsibility and customers and other stakeholders to know vegetables from independent growers
Sustainability Award to on average. The North Carolina salad that the fruit and vegetables we sell have
facility recycled nearly three million sustainability in broad terms, around the world. Many of our supplier
Recyplast in 2019, pounds of cardboard in 2018. and the Dole Code of Conduct
been produced in accordance with the relationships stretch back over many
highest environmental and labor standards. years of knowledge sharing and mutual
in recognition of the establishes core values and Additionally, many large retailers have their growth. Growers are required to comply
organization’s Less waste during vegetable own detailed requirements for the fresh
expectations that apply to all with the Dole Code of Conduct and
pioneering work. processing produce sold in their stores – and require Supplier Manual and conduct regular
Dole’s vegetable processing plants in
Dole employees everywhere regular audits to confirm compliance audits to help to ensure that good
the U.S. have launched several initiatives in the world. with those requirements. agricultural and social practices are
aimed at reducing waste, including sending followed. In many cases, Dole customers
all vegetable matter culled during salad Each division, operation and employee require their own audits, and the same
ISO 14001 and SA 8000
preparation for composting rather than to is responsible for managing their work certifications that are required of Dole
Dole was the first agricultural company to
landfills. The installation of new, precision in ways that live up to those standards. achieve these international environmental operations are also required of the
equipment, combined with process Dole businesses develop and maintain and social certifications, which along with independent grower.
improvements, are helping to reduce management practices in line with a deep Dole’s own standards formed the basis
food waste during processing – and understanding of the agricultural, scientific for development of the Dole integrated
there are plans for additional installations and social aspects of the work in that part management system that is used by the
of our company – as well as the expectations company’s tropical fruits business.
that could further reduce food waste.
of the division’s key stakeholders,
Over one million pounds of raw vegetable Global GAP and GFSI
wherever they may be in the world. Many major retailers require Global Good
material had been saved at Dole’s North
Carolina salad processing facility by Agricultural Practice certification and/or
Recyplast, a joint venture recycling the middle of 2019, thanks to yield
The Dole Code of Conduct certifications against one of the programs
recognized by the Global Food Safety
company established in Costa Rica by improvements. Dole requires all employees, long-term Initiative. In 2018, all products shipped
On farms and in processing Dole, Del Monte and the Montecristo contractors and key suppliers to affirm by Dole Fresh Vegetables were grown
plants, Dole’s “reduce, reuse Group, celebrated its 25th anniversary in Consumer packaging innovations their commitment to uphold the principles on GFSI-compliant farms, for example.
2018. Recyplast was created to recycle defined in the Dole Code of Conduct, and
and recycle” approach Dole supports the recent push within to regularly reaffirm that commitment. Certified organic
banana bags and twine from farms into
continues to foster initiatives plastic corner boards used to maintain
the banana industry to replace plastic The Code includes key policies and Dole is the world’s largest shipper
consumer bags with bands of tape of certified-organic bananas and
aimed at creating less waste. pallets during transport. Over the years,
to reduce the overall use of plastic.
expectations on a wide range of topics,
pineapples and has a growing footprint
Recyplast has expanded to receive plastic from ethics and legal requirements to our
But we believe it is also possible to go as a distributor of organic vegetables
from other agricultural operations such commitment to support local communities
Plastic recycling and reuse as pineapples and melons. In addition to
further. We’re testing several options and our policies on workplace behavior,
and packaged salads, too. In 2018, Dole
shipped 270,000 metric tons of organic
On Dole’s banana plantations, plastic field for compostable alternatives to community impacts and the responsible use
agricultural plastics, the facility now relies bananas and pineapples globally.
bags and sheaths used to protect banana conventional consumer-level packaging of crop protection products. Stakeholders
on post-consumer plastic waste, including
stems from insects and damage during for these products, as well as options are encouraged to report any concerns via Fairtrade
materials sourced from small, woman-
growing are reused or recycled. Plastic for returnable containers. Dole’s internet or telephone hotline (via Dole distributes Fairtrade-certified
owned organizations in Costa Rica.
twine used in the growing process is contact details found within the Code of bananas from the Dominican Republic,
Dole’s Diversified Division is Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru
also recycled. Conduct itself). and Fairtrade-certified pineapples from
experimenting with more sustainable GOAL Costa Rica to markets in Europe and the
alternatives to the use of conventional
Ensure that all Dole tropical fruits United States.
plastic that fruit is packed in to prevent
packaging materials are either
ripening during transport. Two new Rainforest Alliance
recyclable or compostable by 2025.
fruit-bag technologies are being assessed A majority of Dole banana and pineapple
to determine their suitability as a large- operations have been certified by the
scale substitute for conventional materials. Rainforest Alliance, signaling that the
fruit is grown on farms that meet
stringent sustainable agriculture criteria.
26 27Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
As one of the world’s leading food
companies, Dole stands for quality
fresh produce – and to us, that
means safe, nutritious fruits and
vegetables that taste as good
as they look.
Everyone who works at Dole is passionate
about providing safe, high-quality fruit
and vegetables that help feed the world.
For
And we’re all united by a shared desire
to make sure it’s the freshest, safest and
most nutritious produce on the market.
Our ultimate goal as a company is to support
healthy living through nutritious food. We’re
constantly innovating to bring consumers
tastier, simpler products and to find creative,
Food
scientifically backed ways to promote nutrition
– especially among kids.
And we’re working tirelessly with our
partners and other stakeholders around
the world to increase the availability of
fresh, delicious produce.
28 29Contents Our Approach For People For Nature For Food
Promoting healthy eating
Healthy, nutritious salads Dole’s new salad graphics, launched in
In the U.S., Dole is constantly innovating late 2017, were designed to make it
to bring tasty, nutritious salad options to easy for consumers to review nutritional
grocery store shelves, giving consumers and ingredient information when making
a quick and easy way to create healthy decisions in-store.
meals at home. For example, our new
Bountiful KitsTM combine fresh vegetables
with custom dressings and hearty, GOAL
1M plant-based ingredients. Inside each bag
is a packet with different combinations
of fresh grains, seeds, corn, lentils,
Reach 750 million cumulative
impressions annually across all of
subscribers receive Dole’s Dole’s health, nutrition and wellness
beans or peppers which provide a
Nutrition News newsletter satiating salad that “eats like a meal.” initiatives programs by 2025.
– with insights and tips on
how to enjoy a healthy,
plant-forward diet
- each month. Putting our commitment into practice
Dole and Disney: encouraging
kids to choose fruit
Disney’s movie Since 2016, The Walt Disney
characters have Company-owned movie characters
appeared on more than have been appearing on Dole products
such as bananas, pineapples and
9B
servings of Dole
vegetables at grocery stores across
the U.S.
The idea behind the collaboration is to
produce since 2016.
give parents a helping hand in getting
Bringing nutrition education
their kids to choose healthier meals to schools in Greece
and snacks, while giving kids an added
In Greece, Dole has been funding
Nutrition education In the U.S., Dole is a founding member reason to be excited about choosing
nutrition education programs in schools
of the National 5 A Day For Better Health healthier foods.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are Dole publishes dozens of plant-forward since 2012 in partnership with the Greek
recipes each year to inspire consumers Program and is the produce industry Promotions are timed to coincide Ministry of Education.
a key part of a healthy diet, so to make nutritious meals at home. Our leader in developing technology-based with Disney releases. For example,
nutrition education programs for children. Each year, Dole-sponsored nutritionists
it’s a natural choice for Dole to email newsletter, Nutrition News, offers a Star Wars™ imagery appeared on Dole
hold hundreds of sessions with groups
take action to promote healthy monthly look at nutrition research, along In 2019, Dole signed on for a one-year products and in advertising in 2017
of students, to teach them about the
with recipes and tips for greater health partnership with the nonprofit Action during the release of The Last Jedi™
eating – with a special focus and wellness. We also share nutrition and for Healthy Kids, to develop toolkits and and more recently Captain Marvel™
principles of healthy eating. The program
has so far reached over 710,000 students
on helping young people to wellness insights with Dole’s more than programs to help teachers and parents characters appeared on stickers
and faculty in more than 4,000 schools,
1.7 million followers on social media. in spring 2019 to coincide with
understand the importance deliver health and wellness messages and successive governments have praised
to kids. a movie release.
of healthy food. its value in helping to tackle the country’s
growing obesity problem.
30 31You can also read
