Dinant Receives Internationally Acclaimed Environmental Certifications

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporacion Dinant yesterday formally received two internationally acclaimed certifications in recognition of the company's enhanced environmental management systems and occupational health & safety.

After significant investment, planning and external auditing, all 14 of Dinant's Honduran facilities were awarded ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 status, including Dinant's foods, snacks, edible oils, and homecare products factories; African Palm Oil extraction mills in Lean and Aguan; commercial greenhouses; the corporate headquarters; a distribution center in San Pedro Sula; and 31 individual African Palm Oil plantations.

Receiving the awards, company spokesman Roger Pineda said, "I am particularly proud that both of these demanding international certifications have been awarded to every individual division of Dinant in Honduras.  These awards do not simply mark the level of progress that the company is making as a whole; rather, all of our operation sites have each been subjected to extensive examination and all have proved worthy recipients."

ISO 14001 recognizes Dinant's environmental management systems, which are helping to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and drive down costs.  OHSAS 18001 acknowledges Dinant's progress in occupational health & safety management systems.  These certifications are testament to the significant investments that have been made throughout Dinant's operations as part of its Enhanced Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) under the guidance of the IFC.

Presenting the awards, Sandra Velasquez, Country Manager of ICONTEC, acknowledged Dinant's success in being simultaneously presented with 28 individual awards, an unprecedented achievement in Latin America.

Mr. Pineda continued, "I know of no other company or organization in Honduras or the Central American region that has received such simultaneous recognition across its entire operation.  Dinant truly is a benchmark among modern, professionalized consumer marketing and agribusinesses."

About Corporacion Dinant
Corporacion Dinant is a family-owned consumer products manufacturer founded in Honduras in 1960 by Miguel Facusse.  Its products are sold throughout Central America and the Dominican Republic, and are exported to global markets.  Dinant employs 8,000 people, directly supports over 22,000 livelihoods, generates many millions of US dollars in exports for the Honduran economy, and contributes significantly to all the communities and countries in which its operates.

Dinant rigorously benchmarks it operations against the principles of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) regarding the economic, environmental and social impact of its African Palm oil business.  The company is modernizing its community engagement programs by recruiting Community Social Liaison Staff and introducing local Grievance Mechanisms throughout Honduras.  As part of its adherence to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, Dinant has removed all firearms from the security men and women at its plantations, extraction mills and manufacturing plants.  

Roger Pineda, [email protected], +(504) 2239-8800

SOURCE Corporacion Dinant

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http://www.dinant.com