For 10 years, GLOBAL 2000 has run, together with Rewe International AG, a reduction programme. Thanks to this innovative collaboration they succeeded in persuading the Austrian environmental organization to reduce the tax on crop protection products for fruit and vegetables on the shelves of Billa, Merkur and Penny. Through the consequent cooperation of all parties a standard could be agreed, which is clearly stricter than the present legal requirement. But despite the successes for GLOBAL 2000, there is still lots to do. Waltraud Novak, head of the reduction program, emphasised: "It is still not completely guaranteed that we are still within all legal maximum levels. That must change and above all, we need to aim for the Scandinavian example to make sure that the person who causes environmental and health damage can pay."
"The exceptional success of this programme is the common goal for improvement," said Frank Hensel, director of Rewe International AF. "The GLOBAL 2000 team and Rewe work with the suppliers and producers of alternatives to improve the situation in the field of crop protection products. Thanks to this cooperation we are consistently pushing the search for alternatives in the area of crop protection. We have worked through the years with a clear goal in mind, to achieve a marked decrease in the total tax on fruit and vegetables which is the core of our programme. This is the only way to sustain progress - for the health of the consumer and for the environment."