In January 2020 Ethical Consumer searched Danone’s website, www.danone.com, for an environment report or policy.
The Sustainability section of the company’s website contained a section on the environment, and discussed the issues of climate change and green house gas emissions; deforestation; the need to support smallholder farmers and promote agricultural diversity; water consumption, limiting the use of agricultural chemicals, conservation and watershed protection; the need to create a circular economy; waste; sourcing of raw materials; efforts to reduce packaging. The company was considered to have a reasonable understanding of its key environmental impacts.
A number of environmental reduction targets were presented including:
- 100% of packaging to be recyclable, reusable or compostible by 2025 (currently 87%)
- cutting full scope greenhouse gas emissions in intensity by 50% by 2030, from a 2015 baseline
Danone provided some environmental performance data, including a breakdown of its green house gas emissions within its climate policy. However, data did not appear to be independently verified.
Overall Groupe Danone received Ethical Consumer’s middle rating for Environmental Reporting.
Reference:
Danone website (8 January 2020)