Danone is engaged on SDG 2 as a major focus
With the mission to "bring health through food to as many people as possible", Danone is a leading global food & beverage company which aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices. Reflecting this ambition, in 2017 Danone unveiled a refreshed logo and its very first company signature: “One Planet. One Health.” These words reflect the company vision that the health of people and the health of the planet are interconnected and that each time we eat and drink we can vote for the world we want to live in. This vision fully supports SDG 2 which states the interdependancy of improved nutrition and resilient agricultural practices and promotes sustainable food systems.
Danone commitment to impact health positively and to address poor or malnutrition issues
Through its Nutriplanet program, Danone invests in understanding global and local public health issues in order to define strategies to encourage healthy choices and to develop relevant solutions and products. The company has specific Division, the Specialized Nutrition Division (which includes Early Life Nutrition and Advanced Medical Nutrition activities), as well as a dedicated approach on access to nutrition.
Fortified Products for children in Africa:
Nutriplanet put in evidence nutrient deficiencies in Africa which led to the development of fortified dairy products for children and women with for instance, Phosphatine in Africa, FanXtra in Ghana, Danino in Algeria, Nutriday in South Africa, and Jibi Vanilla in Morocco.
Supporting Nutrition for Pregnant and Lactating Women and Children under 3 years:
We believe that by helping mums and babies get the right nutrition during the first 1,000 days - from the start of pregnancy until the baby is two years old and in particular through breastfeeding - we can and will positively influence their short- and long-term health outcomes. Together with our partners, we have always advocated for breastfeeding and the importance of appropriate nutrition for infants and young children. Through our Early Life Nutrition activities, we aim to create high quality products, contributing to a healthy start in life for children worldwide. Alongside nutritional support through our education and services, we are introducing nutritious products for pregnant and breastfeeding women in an increasing number of global markets.
Supporting Nutrition for People with Special Needs and Older Person:
Through our Advanced Medical Nutrition activities, we offer a range of adapted nutrition for consumers and patients with special needs such as pediatric nutrition range that supports infants and children affected by metabolic disorders, faltering growth or allergy; or adult nutrition range that supports those who are undergoing medical treatment, whether hospitalized or recovering, including older people.
Access to Affordable Nutrition:
We are building on social entrepreneurship as a driving force to bring nutrition solutions to low income populations. We are learning from our experiences with Danone social innovation funds, especially with Danone Communities which is an incubator of business solutions addressing low incomes population needs in terms of access to safe drinking water and alleviating chronic malnutrition. Since 2006, Danone Communities has co-financed and supported ten social businesses on nutrition and water access, including in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, France, Haiti, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Uganda, Rwanda and Senegal.
Danone commitment to support sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices
Danone acknowledges the global, systemic and huge challenges that we face as humanity seeks to feed 9 billion people with natural ecosystems that are already under pressure. As a food company, agriculture is at the heart of Danone’s business. Today’s agricultural system faces a number of challenges, such as climate impact, animal welfare, loss of biodiversity and water scarcity. We believe agriculture can be a solution to these challenges and a driver of sustainable growth.
Addressing rural poverty and developing resilient agriculture practices with smallholder farmers:
Danone is working directly with farmers in its supply chain to co-create action plans that will help them implement sustainable agricultural practices and increase yields while addressing rural poverty issues via its social innovation funds.
- The Danone Ecosystem Fund aims to strengthen and develop activities of general interest within Danone's ecosystem: it specifically supports the professional empowerment of “small” local actors such as smallholder farmers, micro-distributors, care givers and waste pickers. The Danone Ecosystem Fund supports the transformation of agricultural practices in the company’s supply chain through 35 projects across the world. Smallholder farmers see an increase in revenue, as well as improvements in their working conditions, and consequently, improvement of their quality of life, as does that of their families.
- The Livelihoods Funds answer to the challenges of environmental degradation, climate change and rural poverty. The Livelihoods Carbon Fund is financing environmental restoration, agroforestry and energy projects to avoid the emission of 10 million tons of CO2. The Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming will empower 200,000 family farms with sustainable practices to boost productivity while preserving the environment.
Protecting biodiversity and fostering sustainable agriculture practices:
We are working with our partners to develop a diversity of regenerative farming models that are competitive, inclusive and resilient and help address challenges such as biodiversity loss, soil health or animal welfare. Our approach to regenerative agriculture is built around 3 pillars: (i) protecting soil health, water resources and biodiversity, (ii) empowering new generations of farmers and (iii) promoting animal welfare, and we also foster sustainable agricultural practices through organic sourcing or non-GMO approach.
- Danone North America: in the USA, where much of the agricultural supply of our industry relies on a limited number of species, mostly GMOs, Danone is striving for more diversified approach for both ingredients and for cow feed so that key issues like farmers’ independence, biodiversity, soil preservation and carbon sequestration, water usage and fossil energy efficiency may potentially be better addressed in the long term. Danone’s US dairy activities are working towards non-GMO milk sourcing, achieving 50% of non-organic fresh milk volumes converted to Non-GMO Project verified while improving its sustainable agriculture practices and increasing labeling transparency. The subsidiary is working on new ambitions including its commitment to soil health and regenerative agriculture.
- Danone Act in France: Danone is striving for more sustainable agriculture practices in farms and commits to achieve 100% of raw materials produced in France through regenerative agriculture practices. For instance, by 2020, 100% of Danone’s brands to kids will propose organic ranges. To engage the consumers, from 2018, Danone provides simpler products & communicate transparently by publishing 100% of recipes on www.danone.fr and promoting the Nutriscore system on dairy ranges. In relation to the Danone Act, on September 21st, 2018, all French Danone brands donated a full day’s sales to support regenerative agriculture projects and 1,500 Danone employees and farmers rallied in stores across France to raise consumers awareness on regenerative agriculture.