Soil Association has launched air freight consultation

The Soil Association has launched a consultation to find ways to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of organic air freight. The important issues of climate change, ethical trade, global justice and international development are brought together by this step. Development charities, environmentalists, organic consumers, organic businesses in the UK and abroad, and a wide range of other interested parties are consulted. The Soil Association is engaged in such a wide-ranging public discussion on a change to its organic standards as far reaching as this for the very first time. The deadline for the consultation is 28 September 2007.

Anna Bradley, chair of the Soil Association Standards Board, states that concerns have been raised about the damage caused to the environment by air freight, as awareness of climate change has been growing. But when reducing the impact on the world’s climate, the social and economic benefits of air freight for international development and growth of the organic market as a whole have to be considered as well. The Soil Association Standards Board is taking a leading role in approaching this complex issue through this public consultation.

Source: Soil Association