GREEN, GREENER... Sustainability Sustainability is an important topic in social debates. Consumers are concerned about how companies treat humans, animals and the environment. A lot of the attention goes to animal welfare. However, other aspects of sustainability are also important to the critical consumer. Degens cares about the (sustainable) future and is therefore working on improving the sustainability of production in the value chain. Supplying sustainable ingredients will allow our clients to do business while complying with their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Sustainable cloves from Madagascar Many of the ingredients in our products, such as herbs and spices, are sourced far away. Cloves are one of these. For several years, we have been sourcing our cloves from a farmers' cooperative in Madagascar. In Madagascar, cloves are cultivated on a small scale: often farmers only harvest from a single tree. Thanks to the cooperative, these farmers are more secure in terms of sales and income. This is essential, but another important factor is that the cloves are cultivated sustainably. On 1 May 2013, we therefore joined up with the cooperative to work on a sustainability project. This means that we can ensure that the cloves are cultivated with
We are proud to announce that we have been dealing with a Madagascan cooperative for our supply of cloves.
respect for people and the planet. An important part of the sustainability project is training the farmers to apply good agricultural practices. A local organisation gives the training courses. Farmers learn about the responsible use of pesticides, crop care, using water with respect for the environment and preparing the soil. Besides the training, the farmers invest in simple tools to promote sustainable production, such as better harvesting methods, planting new trees and acquiring ergonomic equipment for temporary workers. Thus, in cooperation with the producers, Degens (a trademark of Intertaste) is doing its best to improve the quality of life, working conditions, environmental protection and ultimately the quality of the product.
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TASTE magazine