In order to provide safe, secure and sustainable products to customers and consumers – and to do so responsibly – we need to continually find new ways to meet the evolving expectations of the market. This means understanding the diverse needs of our customers, while at the same time finding sustainable ways to feed a fast-growing population. It also means supporting people and communities in our business, in our markets and in our supply chains and doing more with less by driving environmental innovation across the life cycle of our products and in our own operations.
Many sustainability challenges faced by business and society are interconnected. While FOOD. PEOPLE. FUTURES as the chapters of our sustainability story provide us a way to organise and communicate our priorities, we think and work in an integrated way in order to develop solutions that maximise benefits for our customers, for our business and for the communities where we operate.
We also recognise the need for joined-up solutions that span and connect different parts of the food system and we recognise that our responsibilities extend beyond our own operations and our business with customers. That is why our approach to sustainability encompasses the whole value chain. It is also why we align to global initiatives like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We can have the greatest impact on those goals that are most closely aligned with our business model and strategic priorities; therefore, we have identified nine, which you will see throughout this report.
Working with our customers and partners to make food safe and available everywhere through our innovative and market-leading food processing and packaging solutions. Through this approach, we are making a direct contribution to SDGs 2 and 12:
Our processing and packaging solutions enable food and drink to be distributed and stored without refrigeration or preservatives. Our Food for Development initiative helps drive the development of the dairy and food value chain worldwide. School feeding programmes improve health and stimulate development. Our DEEPER IN THE PYRAMID offering is making healthy food accessible to low-income households.
We prefer to use materials from renewable sources, and our long-term goal is that all our packaging will be made from 100% renewable materials. The aseptic technology and packaging help to reduce food.
Top material aspects: food availability, customer health and safety, food waste
Safeguarding and enabling our people and supporting communities where we operate. Through this approach, we are making a direct contribution to SDG 8:
We employ a diverse workforce, and strive to keep all colleagues free from harm. Our Code of Business Conduct sets mandatory requirements on human rights and labour, environment and anti-corruption, complies with applicable legislation and encourages suppliers’ own sustainability initiatives.
Top material aspect: occupational health and safety.
Supporting the sustainable future of our planet and the long-term success of our customers. Through this approach, we are making a direct contribution to SDGs 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17:
We seek to minimise water usage in our operations and reduce the water consumption of the equipment we develop, sell and operate at our customers’ sites. Our Environmental Benchmarking Services help customers to increase efficiency and reduce their own consumption.
We are investing in renewable energy and increasing the use of renewable electricity in our operations. We have joined RE100 and the Business Renewables Center, committing us to sourcing 100 per cent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
We work to improve the environmental profile of our products and solutions and to adopt sustainable practices throughout the value chain. Our equipment is designed to provide outstanding performance and to minimise energy and water use.
We prefer to use materials from renewable sources and are working towards a 100 per cent renewable package. Our aseptic packaging helps to reduce food waste. We adopt responsible practices throughout our value chain and have been reporting on these since 1999.
We are working to minimise our climate impact across the value chain, setting a goal to cap this by 2020 at 2010 levels despite business growth. We develop products and solutions that help reduce climate impact.
We work closely with our suppliers and other partners to ensure sound forest management practices. Our minimum requirements go beyond legislation, and we expect our suppliers to comply. We use credible certification systems to improve forest management.
We actively engage with stakeholders across our entire value chain and at all levels in order to develop common solutions and create shared value.
Top material aspects: supplier environmental assessment, supplier water use, packaging design and resource use, packaging renewability, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, machines and equipment, waste generation, water use, packaging recycling and packaging climate impact.