Verified Document

NGO Alliance Chiquita -- Rainforest Alliance Tie-Up Research Proposal

NGO Alliance Chiquita -- Rainforest Alliance Tie-Up

The Role of NGOs in Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility

The Role of NGOs in Environmental Protection

In complementing the efforts of the public and public health sectors towards providing more adequate and responsive healthcare services to poor people, non-governmental organizations or NGOs have come up with their brand of involvement and solution to problems (Chitra, 2003). Their objectives are to describe and discuss the common characteristics of functioning health systems in a given socio-economic, socio-cultural, political and ecological setting; highlight and delineate the crucial factors for reforms and manage an provide efficient health care services in the community; and act as catalyst for local and community participation in the overall improvement in the quality of life. Their civil and environmental objective is to develop civil and environmental consciousness among the public. The institutions currently involved in NGO environmental activities include the Environmental Training Institute, the Tata Research Institute, and the National Institute of Health and Family (Chitra).

Operations

The growing range of NGO activities spans advocacy, analysis and awareness-raising; brokerage; conflict resolution; capacity-building; delivery of services; and evaluation and monitoring (Nelson, 2007). A major institutional development in the past two decades is the relationship between NGOs and the corporate sector, specifically in the natural sector, also called the extractive sector. The key types of engagement NGOs undertake with the sector are confrontation, communication, consultation, and cooperation. From the strictest to the mildest, these activities range from filing of lawsuits, shareholder activism and media campaign against a specific business, community-level partnerships and friendly arrangements, and accountability mechanisms and cooperative agreements (Nelson).

Strategies

Many NGOs use at least 8 different tactics to encourage businesses to accept and practice social responsibility (Winston, 2002). These are dialogue to promote the adoption of voluntary codes of conduct; advocacy of social accounting and independent verification schemes; shareholder resolutions; documentation of abuses and moral shaming; boycotts of company products or divestment of stock; advocacy of selective purchasing laws; advocacy of government-imposed standards; and lawsuits seeking punitive damages (Winston).

Rainforest Alliance

Founded in 1987 by Daniel Katz, Rainforest Alliance (2012) is a non-governmental organization sworn to conserve biodiversity...

It pursues this mission by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior. It is driven by a vision where people and the environment are preserved and prosper together. Its strategy is to enjoin businesses and communities to observe certain environmental and social standards and to link them up to the global marketplace where sustainable goods and services are increasingly in demand. It uses the power of markets to control deforestation and environmental destruction, timber extraction, agricultural expansion, cattle ranching and tourism. It manages millions of acres of working forests, farms, ranchland, and hotel properties according to strict sustainability standards. It links businesses to their conscientious consumers, who identify their goods and services through the Rainforest Certified seal and Rainforest Alliance Verified mark. This connection proves that sustainable practices can enable enterprises to thrive in the modern economy. Its objectives are to keep forests standing, arrest climate change, protect wildlife, alleviate poverty, and transform business practices. It has 35,000 members and more than 300 employees worldwide in 20 global offices to fulfill these mission, vision and objectives (Rainforest Alliance).
Rainforest Alliance-Chiquita International Tie-Up

Rainforest Alliance initiated a tie-up with Chiquita Brands International, Inc., one of the largest agricultural firms in the world, in 1992 under the Better Banana Project (Source Watch, 2008). The collaboration was described as bridging the gap between enterprises and NGOs. In 1999, Chiquita became the third largest banana exporter in Costa Rica, providing 18% of the total banana exports in the world (Bendell, 2012). In 2005, Chiquita launched a major marketing campaign in Europe to firm up its position as the top supplier to the European market before the introduction of import taxes on bananas from Latin America. It wanted to keep European consumers' willingness to pay as much as 25% for Chiquita bananas more than other brands. It reported that one key component of this campaign was the introduction of a new Rainforest Alliance-certified label on its bananas in 9 European countries. This certification was the expression of Chiquita's commitment to high standards of social and environmental standards. Consumers perceive the quality of Chiquita's bananas and the company's respect for the environment. This acceptance and trust resulted in exports receipts valued at $623 million (Source Watch, Bendell).

A Better Banana

Chiquita has the reputation as the company that invented the banana industry. Rainforest Alliance and its allies…

Sources used in this document:
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bendell, J. (2012). Chiquita. A Global Guide. IISD: International Institute for Sustainable

Development. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.iisd.org/business/viewcasestudy.aspx?=109

Chiquita (2008). Our company. Our communities. Our planet. 2008 Corporate Social

Responsibility Report. Chiquita Brands International, Inc. Retrieved on June 17,
2012 from http://www.chiquita.com/getattachment/1374dd80-2541-43fc-9639-7ce50524c62c/2007-2008-Annual-Report-Corporate-Responsibility.aspx
Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.yorku.ca/bunchmj/ICEH/proceedings/Chitra_A_ICEH_papers_105to112.pdf
St. John F. Kennedy School of Government. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/CSRI/publications/workingpaper_34_nelson.pdf
Rainforest Alliance (2002). Chiquita reaps a better banana. Company Profile. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/sites/default/files/publication/pdf/chiquita_profile_en_hz_jan09.pdf
Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about
Source Watch (2008). Chiquita brand international, inc.'s partnership with the Rainforest Alliance. Media Wiki. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=chiquita_Brands_International,Inc.'s_Partnership_Wiki_the_Rainforest_Alliance
Vol 16 # 2 Ethics & International Affairs: Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hiscox/Winston.pdf
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Sustainable Agriculture There Are Many
Words: 3084 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

The second method forces agriculture to manage wastes and develop rural employment. ( Lichtfouse 1-10) All-in-all, there are numerous ways in which to make sustainable agriculture, from simple management adjustments to fundamental changes in the farming system. One course calls for the substitution of products used in agriculture. For instance, toxic chemicals and fertilizers could be substituted for less pollutant alternatives. Many persons suggest the use of Genetically Modified organisms

Sustainable Sustainability in Australian Food Exporting Sustainability...
Words: 813 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Sustainable Sustainability in Australian Food Exporting Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration in both built and natural environments, as human endeavors are revealed to be increasingly fragile and enormously dependent on natural resources that could potentially be eradicated through overuse and unsustainable practices. This affects almost all areas of human activity, including many that might seem not directly related to sustainability issues such as import and export levels. When considered from a

Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Emerging
Words: 3089 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

According to Cook and Murray, "In a sustainable society resources are used fairly and efficiently in order to meet basic human needs globally. Within rural sociology, sustainable agriculture is frequently considered to be a mutually exclusive "competing paradigm" that challenges conventional agriculture on environmental, economic and ideological grounds. As a result, much of the research on identifying sustainable agricultural practices has been focused on understanding the characteristics which differentiate conventional

Agriculture in Italy Agriculture Products
Words: 2136 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

But despite its registered success in the United States, the countries in the European Union, mostly Italy, France or Greece, but also others, have become affirmed as strong discailmers of GM. They mostly reacted in such a manner due to their ongoing battle against fast food, originating primarily from the U.S. And leading to unfavourable outcomes for the individual's health. Italy has even subscribed to the Slow Food Movement, promoting

Agriculture and New Technologies Agriculture and New
Words: 2866 Length: 9 Document Type: Research Paper

Agriculture and New Technologies Agriculture and New Technology Agricultural techniques and technologies have changed vastly over the last several decades contributing to significant improvements in productivity. Today, farming has become a knowledge intensive practice with more than 90% of the farmers across the world using scientific farming methods to minimize their cost and improve their yield. . The cost savings effected in terms of efficient use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides under

Agriculture and How It Is Important to Georgia
Words: 647 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Agriculture defines Georgia's character and way of life, and has throughout the history of the state. "With a contribution of more than $72.5 billion annually to Georgia's $786.5 billion economy, agriculture is the main driver of the state's economic engine," (University of Georgia Cooperative Extension). Since the days where plantation owners capitalized on slave labor to 21st century advancements in agriculture technology, Georgia has been an American agricultural leader. Agriculture

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now