OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
Acting as a true link between growers and processors, from the field to the factory, the Touton group manages responsible supply chains for cocoa, coffee, vanilla, and spices, since 1848.
As field players, we are involved at every level of the value chain. Our vision and collective action plan for a more sustainable and responsible agro-industry builds on our 175 years of experience working alongside producers' communities and tropical ecosystems.
We call it the Positive Agri Culture by Touton
- • Positive
- In line with our entrepreneurial spirit.
- • Agri
- Because agricultural raw materials are at the heart of what we do.
- • Culture
- The relationship of trust that we build to connect all actors of the value chain: from partner-producers to colleagues and clients.
Our Sustainable Sourcing Tool
To deliver upon our vision of POSITIVE AGRI CULTURE and create shared value for all, we have developed a new tool for responsible sourcing: PACT STANDARD
PACT STANDARD creates traceable, transparent and responsible supply chains for cocoa, coffee, vanilla and tropical ingredients.
Specifically designed to anticipate and proactively address social, environmental and economical issues in an evolving agri-food sector landscape, PACT STANDARD generates positive impact on farming communities and consumers in a long-term perspective.
A human-centric & forward thinking approach
PACT STANDARD is based on 3 core and 1 cross-cutting pillar, each one divided into areas of interventions to deliver impact at every level. All interventions follow supply chain-specific operating procedures and associate with verification points that provide a solid framework for annual audits run by a recognised third-party verification organisation.
The third-party verification process shall respect the Verification Manual developed by Touton to evaluate the activities as per the targets and performance indicators on the PACT Standard. The verification is run annually, at the end of the crop season through a combination of desk and on-site verification reviews.
The PACT framework aligns with multiple certification criteria and is compliant with European and international regulatory requirements. PACT Coffee programmes are recognised by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, 2nd party assurance.
For more details download: PACT STANDARD Verification & Assurance performance
smart & SCALABLE solutions for unique supply chains
As part of our day-to-day operations, we understand the different geographical, economical, social, political, or climatic realities. That is why each sustainability activity is selected to suit best the actual needs and constraints of a given supply chain.
PACT STANDARD is designed to help our cocoa and ingredients customers choose and implement sustainability programmes that are relevant both to their CSR objectives and to the needs of the supply chain. Coffee value chains have to implement the programmes based on a three-year activity cycle in line with PACT's equivalence with the Coffee Sustainable Reference Code (SR code), 2nd party assurance, recognised by the Global Coffee Platform.
This approach enables farmers, cooperatives, or communities to benefit from the support they need in terms of training, access to equipment, finance, or education to develop their businesses and improve their quality of life while respecting human rights and ecosystems.
PACT Standard's continuous improvement approach offers the opportunity to co-design programs tailored to customers' sustainable sourcing strategies, considering their ambitions and investment levels in agro-tropical commodities. For coffee supply chains, programmes are time-bound to a 3-year cycle.
PLANT is the essential first level to be implemented from the start of any project. It provides the basic threshold for meeting regulatory and due diligence expectations and lays the foundations for an in-depth understanding of supply chains.
The GROW level allows for scaling up programmes adapting speed or outreach of interventions. In coffee supply chains, GROW would be implemented in the 2nd year of the programme .
The next level serves to NURTURE the relationship with farming communities and their environment. In coffee, it should be implemented in year 2 or 3, but no later than the programme's 3rd anniversary according to the SR code.
