IMPACT PEOPLE’S HEALTH LOCALLY

Extra-financial Performance towards Danone's 2030 Goals

IMPACT PEOPLE’S HEALTH LOCALLY

Our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. To trigger healthier and more sustainable consumptions we act on both products and food choices. Regarding products, we have created a unique portfolio of healthy categories and we strive to continuously optimize their nutritional profile. Also, we build on our in-depth knowledge of local food cultures and food habits, to innovate and actively promote healthier alternatives for better choices. Beyond products, we invest in initiatives with partners (programs and services) to support people in shifting towards healthier dietary habits.

Our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. To trigger healthier and more sustainable consumptions we act on both products and food choices. Regarding products, we have created a unique portfolio of healthy categories and we strive to continuously optimize their nutritional profile. Also, we build on our in-depth knowledge of local food cultures and food habits, to innovate and actively promote healthier alternatives for better choices. Beyond products, we invest in initiatives with partners (programs and services) to support people in shifting towards healthier dietary habits.

For more informationDownloads

At Danone, we believe that providing health through food is not only a necessity but also our responsibility. More sedentary lifestyles and less healthy eating habits imply that modern societies face major public health issues. In this context, we help to trigger eating and drinking habits that are both healthier and relevant to the people.
Danone’s vision of healthy dietary habits goes beyond nutrition and takes into consideration taste, social and cultural dimensions. Through diet, we can play an important role by encouraging the adoption of dietary habits that help to preserve health and have a positive impact on the planet too. As a visible sign of the company's engagement in the Food Revolution, Danone took its ‘Food Nutrition & Health Charter’ one step further and issued, in December 2016, six Nutrition Commitments to measure its performance along with stronger, more measurable and time-bound objectives.

     

    OUR 2018 PERFORMANCE

     

    Having a good understanding of the local nutritional context, public health concerns, eating practices and food socio-cultural dimension, in every country where we do business, is key to defining appropriate local strategies and a product portfolio that promote healthier diets. At Danone, we believe that eating goes beyond nutrition, and to have the greatest impact on promoting healthier eating habits, we must continue to build our in-depth knowledge of local eating and drinking patterns, practices and beliefs as stated in our Nutrition Commitment n°3. By the end of 2020, in its major countries of business, Danone will have implemented and published the outcomes of research programs supported by local experts to understand food cultures and eating and drinking habits.

    NUTRIPLANET

    The Nutriplanet program was designed to provide in-depth knowledge of every food-related aspect of our local contexts. It corresponds to comprehensive analysis of local nutrition and health contexts based on a review of the scientific literature, enhanced by interviews with local experts and key opinion leaders.

     

    In relation to this program, at end 2018, in total:

     

    57

    countries were covered by in-depth studies of local nutrition and health contexts (same as in 2017). 

    FOOD HABITS

    The acquisition of recent quantified consumption data, over several days, allows the analysis of consumption dynamics.

     

    11

    countries were covered by detailed dietary intake data on the full diet, or specific data on fluid intakes by the end of 2018.

    FOOD CULTURES

    Analysis of drinking and eating social norms, practices and their associated representations, Food Cultures studies are realized with external experts and scientific methodologies from the discipline of food socio-anthropology.
     

    10

    countries were covered by Food Cultures studies by the end of 2018.

    WORKING WITH EXPERTS

    Danone co-develops its Health & Nutrition approach through working with local experts.

     

    134

    expert advisory panels were active in the subsidiaries of the One Health Scorecard by the end of 2018 (compared to 132 in 2017).

     

    Over the years, Danone has disinvested from non/less healthy categories (biscuits, alcoholic beverages, sauces…) and invested in healthy categories (infant nutrition, medical nutrition, plant-based offers…).

     

    89%

    of volumes sold in 2018 are in healthy categories (compared to 88% in 2017).
    This percentage indicator refers to water, yogurts, milks and other daily dairy products, beverages with 0% sugar, early life nutrition products (except biscuits and beverages for children under 3 years old) and medical nutrition. The remaining categories are mainly low sugar beverages and indulgent products.. This percentage indicator is calculated on the One Health Scorecard scope.

     

    Danone’s ambitious nutritional targets have been continuously updated to improve the nutritional quality of products. Danone has deployed comprehensive internal nutritional targets since 2005 which were revised in 2016, published externally, and now serve as reference for Commitment n°1 of the Danone Nutrition Commitments .

    PERFORMANCE 2018
    78%

    of volumes sold at end 2018 are in line with the Nutritional Targets 2020 (compared to 73% in 2017)

    TARGET
    100%

    of volumes in line with Nutritional Targets by the end of 2020

    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard.

     

    81%

    of volumes sold at end 2018 are without added sugar.

    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard, for the product categories where it is relevant: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products), early life nutrition products and all plain water and Aquadrinks.

     

    85%

    of entities have an active reformulation plan towards the Nutritional Targets 2020 reviewed by their management committee (Danone Way scope, see Methodology Note and learn more on Danone Way in Be certified as a B Corp section).

     

    10%

    of volumes sold are products that have been nutritionally improved in 2018 (compared to 21% over the three years 2015-2017).

    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard, for the product categories where it is relevant: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products), early life nutrition products and sweetened Aquadrinks.

     

    25%

    of volumes sold in 2018 are fortified products (compared to 30% in 2017).

    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard, for the Essential Dairy Products and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products).

     

    Beyond products' nutritional quality, Danone believes that an enjoyable consumer experience is the first driver of healthier choices and thus essential to encourage sustainable healthy eating and drinking habits. Therefore, Danone plans to design products which offer healthier choices by combining two criteria: superior product experience for the consumer (see Offer superior food experience and innovate, always section) and superior nutritional quality, compared to the most commonly consumed alternatives. As part of its Nutrition Commitment n°2, Danone is committed to design healthier alternatives relevant for consumers. By the end of 2020, top Danone’s brands will contribute to providing healthier alternatives in consumers’ diets.

     

    In 2018, several new offers of plain products have been launched, in Canada (Oikos), in Spain (YoPro), in France (Le Bio), in Portugal and Spain (Activia), in Bulgaria (Activia), in Korea (Greek), and the « Danone du Monde » range was launched in France and Italy.

    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

    Danone supports all initiatives which aim to better inform every consumer and enable him/her to become an actor of his/her health. 
    As part of its Nutrition Commitment n°6, Danone is committed to providing the most appropriate product labeling to encourage healthier practices. By the end of 2020, all product volumes sold will provide comprehensive nutritional information, via various means, to guide consumers, in particular regarding portion guidance(1).
    (1) Scope: all countries, all Divisions, all products except packaged water and other (limited) exceptions.

     

    99%

    of volumes sold in 2018 are products with on-pack nutritional information (99% in 2017).
    The percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of The One Health Scorecard for the Divisions Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products),  Specialized Nutrition and Aquadrinks (not relevant for Waters, which are subject to separate regulations).

     

    100%

    of volumes sold in 2018 were products with off-pack nutritional information (available online or via a call center, for example) (same value in 2017).
    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard for the Divisions Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products), Specialized Nutrition and Aquadrinks (not relevant for Waters, which are subject to separate regulations).

     

    73%

    of volumes sold in 2018 provide an indication of the portion size (products packaged in individual portions and/or with a clear indication of portion size on the packaging) (74% in 2017).
    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard     for the Divisions Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products),  early life nutrition products and Aquadrinks (not relevant for Waters, which are subject to separate regulations and for medical nutrition products, 100% is by definition applied due to the fact that products are prescribed by health care professionals and labelling has to follow the local legislation.

     

    Danone believes that summary front-of-pack information can help consumers to make informed healthier choices and will support front-of-pack systems that are science-based and are demonstrated as useful to the consumer.

     

    53%

    of volumes sold in 2018 carry front-of-pack nutritional information (38% in 2017).
    This percentage indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard for the Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products Division (excluding plant-based products), and Aquadrinks (excluding countries where regulations forbid the disclosure of this information). Since the commitment was extended worldwide in 2016 (previously limited to Europe), the scope of reporting has changed in 2016.

     

     

    In Europe for instance, Danone supports the Nutri-Score scheme, welcomed by WHO Europe, which is a robust, science-based, consumer-tested system, synthesizing in one indicator and color (A to E – green to red) the nutritional quality of a product (per 100g). It favors a positive vision of alimentation, balancing the nutrients to limit (sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat) and the nutrients to encourage (fiber, protein…).
    Following the French government’s decision to adopt the Nutri-Score as its national front-of-pack labelling scheme, Danone is progressively rolling this out on its fresh dairy products portfolio in France. In 2019, the roll-out will also encompass Danone’s fresh dairy products in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia.

    RESPONSIBLE COMPANY PRACTICES

    Adopting responsible marketing practices is key for encouraging healthier behaviors particularly when it comes to children who will benefit from this across their lifespan.
    Danone contributes to the advancement of business practices through cross-sector voluntary commitments, through participating in local pledges, such as the EU pledge for responsible marketing to children, and by making additional specific commitments, especially with regards to supporting breastfeeding.

     

    As part of its Nutrition Commitment n°5, Danone will be implementing even more responsible marketing practices, especially with regards to children. By the end of 2020, each country in which Danone operates has committed to disclose and embed a local comprehensive policy on responsible marketing practices. These policies will include Danone’s commitment regarding breast-milk substitutes.

     

    98.4%

    compliance of registered television advertising with the EU Pledge criteria in the seven countries audited (France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the U.K).

     

    100%

    of websites (8 out of 8) and brand profiles (4 out of 4) audited were compliant with the EU Pledge criteria in the eight countries audited (Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden).

     

    3,253

    employees were trained to Danone's Policy of marketing for breastmilk substitutes.

     

    For more information on our Responsible Marketing practices, please refer to Danone.com.
           

     

    Danone creates partnerships and join existing movements in order to contribute together to local public health challenges. We engage in the co-development of services and education programs that can have the greatest impact on health and wellness of individuals living in various communities. 
    As part of its Nutrition Commitment n°4, Danone is committed to contribute to addressing local public health challenges on which Danone can have a most favorable impact through partnerships. By the end of 2020, in 15 major countries in which Danone does business, it will have contributed to a local public health cause with relevant actions and programs.

     

    92%

    of entities have aligned on at least one Public Health cause for which they commit to act (Danone Way scope, see Methodology Note and learn more on Danone Way in Be certified as a B Corp section).

     

    75%

    of entities have at least one action (e.g. program, service) relevant to their cause which has been active during the past year and they have quantified the number of people reached (Danone Way scope, see Methodology Note and learn more on Danone Way in Be certified as a B Corp section).

    EDUCATION AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS

    30

    education and information programs for consumers were active this year (versus 28 in 2017).

     

    This indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard.
    The indicator was redefined in 2017. To be included in the calculation, a consumer program must now meet the following demanding relevance criteria:

    • the program addresses a local Public Health issue, identified as a priority by local stakeholders 
    • the program addresses one or several recognized determinants of the issue (for instance "unhealthy snacking" is one of the determinants of the obesity issue) 
    • the program has a defined objective linked with the issue and the selected determinants, it targets an identified population group, the initial state of which has been documented ("baseline")
    • the program is co-constructed with academia and/or the government, concrete action levers have been prioritized, intermediate milestones are defined, impact indicators are defined
    • the impact is regularly measured, and the program is adjusted if needed, depending on the measured outcomes.

     

    35 million


    These programs potentially reached more than 35 million people since their launch (versus 28 million in 2017): ​​consumers for the Divisions Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products (excluding plant-based products) and Waters; parents for early life nutrition, and patients and caregivers for medical nutrition.

    Focus: fight against overconsumption or obesity

    In some countries where we operate, over-consumption or obesity are local public health issues and it particularly affects children. Through education and information programs, our subsidiaries address the issue and encourage children to adopt healthier habits. For instance:

    • In Spain, 41.3% of children between 6 and 9 years old suffer from obesity or overweight(1). To take a step further fighting against obesity, especially in children, Danone Spain carried out several actions among which the program Danone Sports Schools (EDD) developed with ADDIM, a Spanish association. It is an educational program that promotes healthy habits and social integration among children aged 6 to 12, and coming from unprivileged areas, through sport, education in values and healthy lifestyles and academic support. Measurement through a psychosocial test every trimester demonstrates the change in the children’s habits.
    • Mexico is one of the country with the highest overweight or obesity rates(2). Developed with the National Pediatric Institute (Instituto Nacional de Pediatria), the Mexico Waters subsidiary has launched the education program “Prefiero Agua Simple” [I prefer water] in schools to promote healthier hydration habits with plain water consumption. A survey was applied before and after the program, and a final follow up after one year of the program implementation. It demonstrates an increase in plain water consumption, and a switch from sweetened beverages to plain water consumption.

    (1) ALADINO study 2015, Surveillance Study of Growth, Feeding, Physical Activity, Child Development and Obesity in Spain (Estudio ALADINO 2015, Estudio de Vigilancia del Crecimiento, Alimentación, Actividad Física, Desarrollo Infantil y Obesidad en España. 2015)

    (2) Obesity Update 2017 report from OECD

    ENABLING LOCAL TEAMS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES

    Danone is empowering its employees to better understand and address local public health issues.

     

    13,296

    employees were trained on nutrition, health and/or hydration in the last two years (compared with 33,444 in 2017).
    This indicator is calculated on the One Health Scorecard scope.

    HEALTH @ WORK

    Danone deploys dedicated programs to enable employees to be the best ambassadors of our mission.

     

    At the end of 2018, all 61 Danone subsidiaries have an active "Health @ Work" program, versus 48 out of 50 at the end of 2017.

     

    An active “Health @ Work” program means having a health & wellness program for employees that covers at least one of three aspects: Healthy Diet, Healthy Body and Healthy Mind and must provide at least one free offer. This indicator is calculated on the scope of the One Health Scorecard.

     

    63,619

    employees had access to these “Health @ Work” program (compared to 62,802 in 2017) which represented 85% of the employees in the scope of the One Health Scorecard versus 81% in 2017.

     

    91%

    of entities have a formal policy, endorsed in Management Committee, to support breastfeeding employees and concrete actions are in place (e.g. lactation room, allowed breaks, etc.) (Danone Way scope, see Methodology Note and learn more on Danone Way in Be certified as a B Corp section).