News
HRH makes a speech at the Consumer Goods Forum
22nd June 2010
The Prince of Wales has urged major retailers and manufacturers to act as "educators" of the public on the issue of sustainable food and goods.
The Prince's comment came as he gave the keynote speech at the Consumer Goods Forum in London today where he also called on delegates to change their way of working to help tackle a range of problems from low fish stocks to the threat posed to rainforests by livestock farmers.
The Prince told the senior managers gathered around him: "You really do stand at the bridging point between the maintenance of natural ecosystems, the products dependent upon their healthy functioning and the food security of future generations.
"Things have changed radically since we were all younger and everything was taken for granted.
"You can now make all the difference. You can make a difference by educating the consumer - not just about what to buy, but how to avoid waste."
The Prince used the example of the world's depleted fish stocks to illustrate how the group could make a difference.
His Royal Highness has a long standing interest in the issue and last summer he hosted a Clarence House reception for the Marine Stewardship Council - an organisation that has been promoting sustainable fishing practices across the globe.
He told the delegates: "...I would urge you to recognise that as the suppliers of food to the world's consumers, you simply must become advocates of sustainable forms of fishing and other forms of agriculture.
"Without your commitment and energy, believe me, there will be no change. And 'no change' is not an option."
The forum has a mandate from its members to develop common positions on key strategic and practical issues affecting the consumer goods business and to focus on non-competitive collaborative process improvement.