Prince Charles to food industry: 'Your planet needs you'

In an impassioned speech at the global summit of the Consumer Goods Forum this week, the prince attempted to rally the troops – senior executives from the world’s leading consumer goods companies – into embracing more sustainable sourcing policies.

He began with a rousing call to arms, telling delegates, “you represent a formidable force for good. Few organisations are better-placed to play a central role ​[in tackling] the environmental challenges facing our planet.”​

But he also rebuked them for failing to move quickly enough, accusing them of “collective hubris”​ and "complacency​", adding: “If we are to protect the future you will, I’m afraid, just have to change your way of working.”​

While consumer-facing organisations had to listen to and engage with their customers, they also needed to drive the debate, he said: “You are the gatekeepers and as such you have a vital role to play as advocators and educators. ​

"If the consumer wants more information in order to make better choices, you’re surely the ones that can supply it.​

“You have a unique opportunity and responsibility to make sense of complex issues for consumers who are struggling to work out what is the right thing to do.”​

Dwindling fish stocks​

Much of his speech was devoted to issuing a grim warning of impending apocalypse for marine ecosystems unless the industry took “urgent action to put in place a more precautionary approach to the way that we manage commercial fishing”.​

While manufacturers such as Young’s, Birds Eye and Findus had been “particularly progressive”,​ more action was needed to protect dwindling fish stocks and to help people in developing countries “build the capacity to comply with international regulations​”, he said.

“Many of you are doing remarkable things. But, dare I say, it isn’t enough.”​