WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.– The Dannon Company’s release of its 2011 Sustainable Development Overview highlights the company’s commitment to bring health through food to as many people as possible in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
“In 2012, we are celebrating our 70th anniversary of bringing innovative, great-tasting yogurt and other dairy products to Americans”
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“In 2012, we are celebrating our 70th anniversary of bringing innovative, great-tasting yogurt and other dairy products to Americans,” said Gustavo Valle, the President and CEO of Dannon. “Innovation continues to drive Dannon as we look for new ways to incorporate both economic and social objectives in our daily activities.”
Dannon continues to make improvements in sustainable development in its four value areas: Health and Nutrition, Nature, People and For All.
The 2011 Sustainable Development Overview can be found at www.dannon.com under the Dannon Cares section.
The 2011 Sustainable Development overview summarizes Dannon’s activities within each of its four core values:
Health and Nutrition
Dannon is committed to provide people with nutritious and enjoyable foods that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Dannon has made an additional commitment to promote its vision of a healthy and sustainable life within the communities where it has its headquarters and factories. Since 2006, Dannon has awarded 24 Dannon Next Generation Nutrition grants, totaling more than $700,000, to nonprofit organizations in these communities for nutrition education programming aimed at improving children’s health.
For example, thanks to funding from Dannon, Open Door Family Medical Centers in Port Chester, New York reported that more than half of the 1600 overweight students were able to lower their body mass index (BMI) through their Fit for Life wellness program. Dannon also donated more than 3 million pounds of yogurt to Feeding America last year, for Americans at-risk for hunger.
Nature
In 2011, Dannon focused its environmental commitment on Five Environmental Sustainability Pillars: climate change, biodiversity, packaging, agriculture and water preservation.
Through Dannon’s cross-functional Green Team, employees across the company from manufacturing to marketing incorporated environmental sustainability initiatives throughout the company’s business objectives.
In 2011, Dannon reduced its carbon footprint by 5.9%, resulting in a total reduction of more than 29% since 2008. Approximately 93% of manufacturing waste was recycled at Dannon factories–an 18% improvement from 2010. Additionally, from 2008-2011, Dannon factories were upgraded, resulting in a water usage reduction of more than 30%.
People
Dannon’s success starts with the dedication and imagination of its employees. Dannon employees are leaders with a desire to give back to their communities. Once the devastating 2011 earthquake struck Japan, Dannon employees were quick to collect over $28,000 to help colleagues in that country.
Regular volunteering activities are both a way to give back to the community and to build teamwork among employees. Dannon was rated among the top 50 companies with best reputations in areas of citizenship, governance, and workplace practices by Reputation Institute’s 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Index.
For All
Dannon believes that yogurt, as a nutrient rich food, is always a good value. Dannon is committed to creating affordable, delicious and healthy products for consumers; providing even greater value in multi-pack and quart varieties.
This, and Dannon’s many other social and environmental initiatives, illustrates Dannon’s commitment to a visionary statement made by Antoine Riboud, former Chairman of Danone (Dannon’s parent company), in 1972. This statement continues to serve as the cornerstone of Dannon’s sustainable development activities today:
“A company’s responsibility does not end at the office door or factory gate, since its action affects the community as a whole.”
About The Dannon Company, Inc.
Headquartered in White Plains, New York, Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, West Jordan, UT, and Portland, OR, which make more than 200 different flavors, styles and sizes of cultured refrigerated and frozen dairy products to serve the diverse needs of its retail and foodservice customers. Dannon brings health through food to as many people as possible via its wide offering of delicious and wholesome fresh and frozen yogurts.
Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, and Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone. Dannon’s commitment to health is also illustrated through the support of the Dannon Institute, a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting research, education, and communication about the links between nutrition, diet and health. For more information, visit dannon.com.
Source: The Dannon Company, Inc.