Global Compact International Yearbook 2009

Carrefour
For you, for us –
Carrefour Commits Itself
Since 2001, Carrefour Colombia has adhered to the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) program for the voluntary, gradual eradication of illicit plantations. In
another project, in Bangladesh, the focus is on the workers of controlled products suppliers.
Training helps them learn more about their labour and Human Rights.
By Helene Jessua
The first best practice is about encouraging
farmers to give up illicit cultivation:
The idea is to assist those who have given
up coca cultivation so that they can earn
adequate incomes legally. This program
consists of convincing Colombian farmers
who cultivate illicit coca to change
to products that are mainly consumed
in their country, such as beans, cacao,
palm hearts, coffee, honey, coconuts.
To achieve this, and to ensure adequate
income to farmers, it is important that
a company can ensure the marketing
of these substitution products. Thus,
within the framework of the UN program,
Carrefour has implemented practices already
in place in other countries, such as
guaranteeing a minimum price to enable
farmers to live decently and committing
to this in the long term.
The products are selected under the UN-
ODC Alternative Development Products
program and by the Colombian government’s
Presidential Agency for Social
Action. In some cases, the United States
Agency for International Development
(USAID) is also involved in the project.
After checking farmers’ compliance with
the “zero illicit” policy, the products are
presented by the UNODC to Carrefour
Commercial and Social Responsibility
teams. Carrefour also offers technical
support on quality, logistics, and packaging
provided by its commercial team. To
promote the products, Carrefour communicates
in-store and places signs on
the shelves next to the products, which
state: “For you, for us, Carrefour commits
itself. In buying this product, you also
support the UN and national government
program for substitution of illicit
cultivation.”
Two examples of projects
supported by Carrefour in the
program:
Agroamazonia was created in mid-2001
by six associations of farmers that signed
an agreement for the substitution of
illicit cultivation, in line with the National
Alternative Development Plan,
which today is called Plan Colombia.
The palm heart of Putumayo produced
by Agroamazonia was the first product
listed by Carrefour within the framework
of the program in 2001. Agroamazonia
includes 332 families and 660 hectares of
palm. The project has thus enabled the
eradication of more than 600 hectares
of coca cultivation.
Carrefour also works with Ecolsierra, a
network that brings together more than
700 families located in Sierra Nevada de
Santa Marta (north of Colombia), who
work to strengthen their productivity
whilst implementing sustainable
ecological agriculture methods. These
families produce organic honey and
coffee. Through application of these
clean production methods, conservation,
recuperation, and protection of natural
resources can be achieved.
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Global Compact International Yearbook 2009