UK Energy Saving Comments on Second Stage of Soil Association Air Freight Consultation

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 03, 2008 – Last year UK Energy Saving was one of many companies and individuals who put forward their views on the air freight consultation run by the Soil Association.¹  With the second stage of the consultation now under way, the web-based Company (http://www.uk-energy-saving.com) has again offered their thoughts on the proposed measures.  

Back in 2007, it was initially debated whether air freighted organic produce should be stripped of its organic status due to the environmental issues associated with this type of transportation.  The end of the first stage of consultation resulted, however, in proposals from the Soil Association that organic producers using air freight would not be stripped of their status but would also be required to meet either their own Ethical Trading or Fairtrade standards.  This was greeted with some pleasure by UK Energy Saving, which had opposed suggestions of removing the organic status of companies using air freight.²

When, in March 2008, the Soil Association began the second stage of the consultation, UK Energy Saving was again keen to put forward their views.  Hayley Jones, Web Marketing Director for http://www.uk-energy-saving.com, therefore commented as follows.  “Our main concern about the proposals was the fact that it seems unfair for producers using air freight to have to meet ethical trading standards whilst other organic producers do not have to do so.  We are pleased, therefore, to see that the implementation of ethical trading policies across the board is planned, albeit at a later stage than for producers of air freighted products.”  

The Soil Association consultation period continues until the end of May 2008, with companies and consumers invited to have their say.  


¹ Visit the Soil Association website for further information – http://www.soilassociation.org/airfreight

² For further details of UK Energy Saving’s comments view their previous press release ‘UK Energy Saving Comment on the Outcome of the Soil Association Air Freight Consultation’
at http://www.uk-energy-saving.com/organic-air-freight-1007.doc