ethical leaders of 2008

Our Jess is in this list of the ethical leaders of 2008, along with Bill Gates, a man from NASA and someone called Barack. Hallowed be her name.

Comments

[Rika]

Wow, congratulations Jess!!!

[simon]

Win or lose, Jess is prettier than Gates or Obama (and, probably, the man from NASA). She'd probably beat them all in an arm wrestling contest too.

[grrenerthanthou]

I heard she travels the world in aircraft. How can you justify being ethically sustainable taking so many flights?

[Jess at innocent]

Thought I should respond to the previous comment...

To make sure that we choose the right approach to ensuring the sustainability of our business it's really important that we fully understand the social and environmental challenges that are faced by our suppliers and that we agree a solution that works for all. Occasionally that means that we have to go and visit them; no matter how hard you try you just cannot get that understanding over the phone. We always make sure that we don't travel unless we have to, that we pack as much as possible into the trip agenda so we only need to go once, that we travel by train whenever we can and we offset our flights if we do fly. We think this keeps the right balance between achieving the best result for sustainability with the minimum of environmental damage.

Hope that makes sense.

[Ynzo van Zanten]

Can we get that picture in wallpaper size please?

[grrenerthanthou]

Anyone involved in sustainability knows full well that carbon offsets do little if not nothing to halt damage to the environment. They have no direct effect on the quantity of emissions burnt by the aviation industry. It is predicted that the UK will not meet its pledges made under the UN Kyoto protocol. I am suprised Innocent would try to justify air travel, especially long distance travel and that someone nominated as an ethical leader would try to defend long distance air travel to somehow minimise environmental damage.

[James Snow]

I tend to agree here, its a little ironic that being sustainable involves travelling large distances on an airplane. One wonders how the benefits would outweigh the known environmental effect, not withstanding the ethical message.

[andrew D at innocent]

Hi guys, really like the discussion and love how I work for a company where people who drink our smoothies care as much as I do (without sounding too cheesy) about how we get it to your fridge. As someone who has worked in a few different supply chains from blue chip companies to small ones closer to my heart, I feel like your comments are a little unfair. The idea of getting a system or a new process to work without investing the time at the ground level to make it happen is impossible (in my last business we struggled on relationships with Italian suppliers when they're even closer).

People do their own thing and cut corners to save themselves money at the expense of what we are trying to achieve with the programs and fruit we try and invest in. I've seen some of the guys come back from their rare trips shattered from working 16 hours days and I genuinely feel Jess will not go somewhere unless it’s a) essential and b) planned to minute level detail. Reading some of the criticisms I think its easy to spot the issues with air travel but how else do you make sure that workers are treated fairly in a small farm completely isolated from even telephone lines or how do you make sure that the bananas that go into our drinks are only the ones that come from RFA accredited plantations. For me, you have to walk the walk not just talk the talk and that sometimes means needing to be there to make it happen. What do you guys think?

Andrew D

[James Snow]

Well grrenerthanthou seems to have more information on jess' flight patterns than I do. A quick search of your typepad shows she travelled to Serbia in July 08 and then Costa Rica in July 07. Is Innocent or grrenerthanthou eluding to the fact that she has travelled more widely? I can understand why Innocent would'nt publicise this fact if indeed its true.

Ignoring that issue for the moment, in reference to Andrew D's point he seems to be saying that no matter what the distance it is important for Jess to be on the ground and see for herself. I can't help but think with the wonders of technology she could soruce somebody locally to do this work for her, without having to take such a long distance flight to Costa Rica (and other unknown places). Surely videoconference etc can be used to upskill someone on the ground who is already there, negating the reliance on long distance aircraft travel. This is just one example but I am sure there are other ways. Regardless of hours worked or minute plans I think all of us including 'Sustainability Jess' can see the irony of travelling to Costa Rica by airplane to perform certain sustainability tasks that can only be done by her and her team (Roseanne).

Maybe grrenerthanthou is a member of the young, educated and well off enough to buy Innocent drinks group that was part of the airport disruption at Stanstead Airport.

As for fossil fuels being needlessly wasted, I am sure those grassy vans produce a lot of drag and hence require more gas to keep them happy?

Greenwash is a sensitive topic with Innocent and I would hate for you to be tarnished with that brush, however I dont feel the real issue has been addressed here.

[jason]

can i have your phone number jess...???, please say your not married...

[Mike]

Sutainability, ehtics, values. I believe all of this starts with you. All of us have a choice here. You could argue about flying with a plane or riding a bycicle. At the end it´s about life design and responsibility.

[Andrew b]

Can I have your 'phone number too please Jess.