Eosta to Introduce Climate-Neutral Kiwis From New Zealand

WADDINXVEEN, The Netherlands, September 9 /PRNewswire/ — In response to consumer concern over global warming, Eosta has launched its climate-neutral product line earlier this year – being the first company in Europe to do so. After the introduction of apples and pears from South America, vine tomatoes from Holland and citrus fruit from South Africa and Egypt, Eosta is now offering climate-neutral kiwi from New Zealand.

“It made perfect sense for us,” says Greig Taylor, managing director of Freshco, “To compensate for CO2 emissions which are caused by our kiwis during agricultural production, processing and distribution. We wanted to demonstrate that shipping fruit from New Zealand can be environmentally responsible.” Based on the pioneering work of Eosta, Freshco is the first company in New Zealand to certify kiwis from their growers as climate-neutral by the renowned German certification agency TUV Nord.

What is climate-neutral?

Climate-neutral means that the CO2 emissions related to the fruit have been compensated for. This begins with a full life-cycle assessment including three levels of emissions: 1st level emissions stem from the agricultural production process. 2nd level emissions are caused by shipping, warehousing and cooling, etc. And 3rd level emissions are the result of the manufacture of fertilizers and other off-farm-inputs, packaging materials, and related business travel, etc. After the total amount of emissions are added up, they are offset with carbon credits obtained through innovative composting projects.

Benefiting organic growers

According to Volkert Engelsman, managing director of Eosta: “We use only carbon credits that were generated by Soil & More composting facilities, many of which are implemented and operated by our suppliers. Eosta works with organic growers all over the globe and has encouraged the use of compost for decades. Being a pioneer in organic and sustainable agriculture it is not surprising that Eosta has now set up Soil & More, as a subsidiary to improve the compost quality to be used for their growers.”"And,” continues Engelsman, “selling carbon credits puts additional money into the growers’ pocket. We take our credo serious: ‘where ecology meets economy’.” Economic sustainability is thus equally important to Eosta as ecological sustainability.

More info: http://www.natureandmore.com/

Eosta BV and Freshco

CONTACT: For more information please contact: Eosta BV, VolkertEngelsman, director, Phone: +31-180-635500. For photos please contact: EostaBV, Mady Hogenboom, PR & Communication, Phone: +31-180-635500. The FreshFruit Company of NZ Ltd, Greig Taylor, director, Phone: +64-9-376-9990