Social-Eng

Human Rights: A Pillar of Our Operations in Costa Rica As part of our commitment to continuous improvement in all our processes and the ongoing evaluation of our ethical trade policies, Grupo Esfuerzo has recertified in consolidated and recognized systems and standards related to human rights and environmental responsibility, such as Rainforest Alliance and Global GAP – GRASP. In addition, we voluntarily decided to increase our verified ethical trade sites by 33%, using the SMETA methodology to understand labor, health, and safety standards. We also maintain the use of the SEDEX platform, which allows us to assess our human rights management systems in relation to international standards. These efforts allow us to affirm our commitment to the respect and guarantee of fundamental human rights ratified by the United Nations and the ILO, such as: freedom of association, safe, hygienic, and healthy conditions for our employees, regular employment, and fair working hours with adequate rest. Furthermore, we promote an integrated social development to benefit the family relationships of our employees and better work/life balance, also guaranteeing a discrimination-free work environment where they receive a friendly, respectful, adequate, and well-compensated treatment in exchange for each individual’s effort. We have also adopted gender equality policies, committing to equity and human rights for all our workers. We have already signed five collective agreements with worker representatives, offering conditions that exceed the guarantees established by our legislation. In addition, we have our own code of ethics, which is communicated and shared with all our stakeholders (clients, suppliers, employees, community, and regulatory entities). We have also formed partnerships with organizations like Stronger Together to design robust, bias-free ethical recruitment procedures, allowing us to hire personnel responsibly and safely. Our responsibility as a leader in the Costa Rican banana sectorAt Grupo Esfuerzo, we are committed and work together with various worker organizations, with representatives freely elected by employees. By having a diversity of associated groups, the company demonstrates an open policy and good relationships with all people linked to our operations. We firmly believe that by providing the right conditions, we can build and sustain a healthy, harmonious organizational culture that supports our employees both within and outside the company. Contact us if you would like to learn more about our commitments and actions regarding sustainability and human rights. WhatsApp Email

Grupo Esfuerzo: a company up to the standards of our European clients. In Grupo Esfuerzo, we have over 30 years of experience in the export of Costa Rican bananas. Currently, we export Cavendish bananas to the United States, Europe, and Asia from our farms in Matina, Valle La Estrella, and Cahuita de Limón.This represents a significant challenge, considering that countries are increasingly strict about their quality requirements and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.For this reason, our company has a team with vast industry experience and technical advisory services that constantly evaluate the requirements of the countries we export to, monitoring current needs and projecting future demands from our customers. This allows us to anticipate possible requests, adapting to changes quickly and efficiently. Monitoring the quality of our bananasWe constantly evaluate our quality, as well as materials and fruit, through recognized laboratories with international accreditations such as ISO 17025 and 9001 standards. This ensures the reliability of the data provided to our customers. Plastic waste managementAt Grupo Esfuerzo, we recycle 99% of the total plastic used in our processes.We maintain an inventory of the processes in our operation that use plastic and identify which ones allow the use of recycled resin and which ones require virgin resin. Additionally, we map the uses of plastic and its final disposal. If any input is single-use and therefore non-recyclable, it is replaced with materials that allow recycling and later reuse.We have optimized the use of plastic packaging and prefer those with recycled resin that are allowed by regulations, reducing their size by up to 30%.We reuse all plastic boxes for fresh fruit packaging and eliminate other types of plastics that would be used in conventional cardboard boxes.With innovative tools and smart indicators, we will monitor the amount of plastic used in our processes, considering both recycled and non-recycled sources. Banana waste managementAll our plant waste is reincorporated into the field; harvested plants and their leaves are left in the field for decomposition, which provides leachates that help maintain soil moisture and improve soil structure.We also treat non-commercial bananas and pinzote (the hard green part where the bananas hang) to incorporate them into the field as natural fertilizer. Specifically, we grind them and mix them with decomposing beneficial microorganisms.This fertilizer is rich in nitrogen, helping the ecosystem’s microbiology and maintaining the health of our soils in a circular economy system.All these environmental actions help us meet the Green Pact standards, which are applicable in our export countries. Respect for labor rights and human dignityIn addition to our efforts in environmental matters, we respect labor rights and comply with the provisions of the Labor Code of Costa Rica, including the payment to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) and the coverage for Work Risk insurance. As part of this package, a 5% payroll contribution is made to the Family Allowance Program, which provides assistance to families in need.We also offer additional benefits established in direct agreements with worker representatives democratically elected at a general assembly.In summary, at Grupo Esfuerzo, we believe that relationships with our stakeholders, especially customers, are based on close, constant, transparent, and fluid communication. These are the pillars of stable businesses, which are strengthened and solidified over time.In this regard, all the requirements of our customers are communicated to the Management and Sustainability department, who are responsible for passing the inquiry to the corresponding department to make adjustments in processes, quality, or social and environmental responsibility, providing responses to the requests of the countries to which we export and the companies that buy from us worldwide. WhatsApp Email

Health Fair: an example of our commitment to the community and the indigenous population In Grupo Esfuerzo, we understand that our responsibility goes beyond producing and exporting high-quality bananas. We believe in the power of teamwork to create a positive impact in the communities where we operate, especially for populations facing greater challenges, such as indigenous communities. For this reason, we decided to support the organization of a Health Fair in the indigenous territory of Cabécar Tayní, in the Valle de la Estrella. Health Fair: A Community Impact InitiativeAt the end of 2024, the Cerere School, located in the Cabécar Tayní indigenous territory, was transformed into a space for care, education, and recreation for 200 students from 20 indigenous schools. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 participated in this fair, which allowed them to access health services and educational activities. Thanks to a public-private collaboration between the Ministry of Public Education, the Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, and companies such as Grupo Esfuerzo, medical checkups, dental checkups, talks on nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits, as well as games and recreational activities that promoted learning in a fun way, were offered. A Joint Effort for Well-beingThe fair involved approximately 100 professionals from areas such as psychology, general medicine, dentistry, nutrition, physical education, special education, and even indigenous traditional medicine. During six hours of intense activity, the health and well-being of the students were promoted, reinforcing the importance of prevention and education on health issues. Grupo Esfuerzo’s ContributionAt Grupo Esfuerzo, we are proud to have contributed to this initiative through food donations, which provided snacks for both the students and the volunteer staff who made the fair possible. We know that proper nutrition is essential for learning and development, so our participation reflected our commitment to the well-being of these communities. Building Strong Relationships with the CommunityAt Grupo Esfuerzo, we maintain a continuous commitment to the development of communities near our operations. We recognize the cultural richness and value of indigenous populations and work to build respectful and sustainable relationships with them. This fair was, precisely, a way to demonstrate that. “Actions like these reflect our vision of social responsibility: to be strategic allies in the promotion of health, education, and community development. We are convinced that by working together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for all people,” said Roberto Gómez, our manager. WhatsApp Email