IFPA’s Muruetagoiena Appointed Chair of Consumer Goods Forum SSCI Environmental Working Group

February 14, 2023

Washington, DC – With sustainability as one of its strategic commitments, the International Fresh Produce Association is pleased to announce that IFPA Director of Sustainability Tamara Muruetagoiena has been asked to serve as Chair of The Consumer Goods Forum Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative’s (SSCI) Environmental Working Group.

Through its Benchmark, which recognizes third-party sustainability compliance schemes that cover key sustainability requirements and apply relevant governance and verification, the SSCI seeks to build trust in sustainability standards worldwide. In 2022, the SSCI launched an Environmental Working Group to develop benchmark criteria to expand the scope of the SSCI Benchmark from social to environmental sustainability.

“As Chair of this working group and through my connections to the fresh produce growing and production community, I will ensure the perspectives of fruit and vegetable growers are part of the SSCI’s efforts to build trust and drive harmonization among environmental sustainability standards worldwide ,” Muruetagoiena commented. “Throughout my professional career, sustainability has remained a cornerstone, and this opportunity to lead and contribute to a broader group of stakeholders is very much in alignment with my personal beliefs and IFPA’s strategic priorities.”

As an organization, IFPA is devoting considerable resources to sustainability, including establishing the Fresh Produce Research Center with sustainability as its first initiative. The Center will connect academia with industry and lean into IFPA’s advocacy strengths to ensure agencies prioritize investment in fresh produce research on behalf of the industry.

This is in addition to ongoing IFPA consumer research on sustainability, active engagement in the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, working to advance climate-smart production and marketplace through USDA grant funding, and numerous resources in packaging, regenerative agriculture, an ethical charter focused on responsible labor practices, and more.

“As this moment in our history, it’s never been more crucial to discover social, economic, and environmental opportunities for the global fresh produce community through sustainable actions, and I am proud to represent the global fresh produce community’s and IFPA’s voice on this working group,” she said.

IFPA’s Muruetagoiena Appointed Chair of Consumer Goods Forum SSCI Environmental Working Group

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