Global food and drink company Danone has announced it is joining the B Corporation (B Corp) movement in Australia and New Zealand by certifying its wholly owned businesses in the region.
B Corp is a growing global business movement committed to the highest levels of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
Danone became the largest B Corp-certified food and drink company across Australia and New Zealand on March 8, when it joined a growing list of more than 400 leading businesses to achieve the certification in the region and more than 4700 globally.
The rigorous certification is independently administered by B Lab and awarded to companies that can demonstrate verifiable positive impact through policies and practices for employees, communities, customers and the environment
“We’re thrilled to have achieved B Corp certification across our wholly-owned businesses in Australia and New Zealand,” Danone head of corporate affairs Scott Pettet said.
“The journey to certification isn’t an easy one and nor should it be. B Lab has rightly set the bar very high, which makes the achievement all the more rewarding for every Danone employee in Australia and New Zealand.
“We know that increasingly, employees, customers, consumers and broader society expect a much stronger stance from businesses and brands on important social and environmental issues.”
B Lab, the not-for-profit organisation behind the B Corp certification, was founded in the United States in 2006 with the idea that a different kind of economy was not only possible but necessary — and that business could lead the way towards a new, stakeholder-driven model.
Brands such as Patagonia, The Body Shop and Ben & Jerry's count themselves as part of the global B Corp movement.
B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand CEO Andrew Davies said having a business the size and complexity of Danone achieve B Corp certification was a “huge step for us in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand”.
“Danone’s certification also shows it is possible for big business to have a positive impact, to hold themselves accountable, and to grow whilst focusing on the stakeholders it impacts in all aspects of its value chain,” he said.
For further information about Danone’s B Corp journey, visit: https://www.danone.com/about-danone/sustainable-value-creation/BCorpAmbition.html