Franklin Baker gets Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials certification

Philippines-based Franklin Baker Company has secured the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification for growing, harvesting and supplying coconut products from farms located on Mindanao Island.

Franklin Baker has become the first food ingredient producer to earn RSB certification.

RSB is a biomaterials sustainability certification programme.

It is a global coalition that brings together farmers, companies, non-governmental organisations, experts, governments, and inter-governmental agencies working on the sustainability of biomaterials production and processing.

It offers a holistic approach towards sustainability assurance, covering social, environmental and operational aspects.

Franklin Baker president and CEO Jerry Lorenzo said: “RSB certification provides numerous benefits to any manufacturing organisation.

“The strength of RSB for Franklin Baker is that not only does it recognise sustainability and ethical practices, but also covers areas of global concern such as labor rights, rural development, conservation and the environment.

“Attention to these operating principles is not only a desired way to run a business, but also reinforces our other CSR activities in the local communities and raises our credibility status with increasingly discerning global customers. We are proud to join the elite group of companies that have achieved RSB certification.”

RSB executive director Rolf Hogan said: “Franklin Baker has demonstrated a firm commitment to the concept of sustainable, ethical manufacturing and supply chain practices as a fundamental business philosophy in their day to day operations."

A manufacturer of coconut products, Franklin Baker's products and manufacturing facilities have also been certified by Fair Trade USA, USDA and European Organic.