From Monday, September 22 through October 30, Chile’s prunes processing plants will undergo their Sustainability Standard Audit and Certification process. This marks one of the final stages in a sustainability journey that began over four years ago for this Chilean industry, which leads global exports of this fruit.
This phase confirms companies commitment to and compliance with sustainable best practices. These businesses are working toward responsible production that protects the environment, ensures quality, strengthens management, and promotes social and ethical values.
Led by Chileprunes, this initiative has gradually taken shape with the goal of “developing and implementing a sustainability standard for the prunes sector, with broad validation from all stakeholder groups involved,” says Executive Director Pedro Acuña.
A Long Journey
The process started in 2021 with the search for funding and strategic partnerships. Chileprunes joined forces with the Sustainability and Climate Change Agency (Agencia de Sustentabilidad y Cambio Climático, ASCC) and ODEPA, the organization behind the Chile Conscious Origin seal (Chile Origen Consciente, ChOC), to work toward certification that “represents a unique opportunity to show the world how our sector seriously addresses global sustainability challenges, creating value for producers, exporters, and consumers,” Acuña adds.
In 2023, the industry went through a collaborative standard-building process that brought together public and private sectors. More than 600 industry players participated, including not just companies and suppliers, but government and academic institutions as well.
After that period, validation with key stakeholders and signing of production agreements took place last year. A few months ago, certification was launched to guarantee that products have been grown under standards that combine quality with sustainability, setting Chilean prunes apart in international markets. This sustainable quality standard operates at two levels: certification for processing plants and certification for farms. The next step involves implementing standards and providing support for companies.
The registration process remains open to all agro-industrial companies, including those involved in drying, sizing, or tenderizing.
Join this process and certify your commitment to sustainability. More information at www.ciruelacertificada.cl
The path toward sustainability remains crucial—an initiative that seeks to incorporate responsible practices while demonstrating sustainable commitment to end consumers.
