187
benefits that attention to the living conditions of workers brings to their businesses
(Ortega et al. 2016).
Nestlé, www.nestle.com, is a company that has a 150-year history in the food
industry. Its global reach and involvement in everything from chocolate to water and
nutritional foods have given it the opportunity to work with agricultural operations
throughout the world. Nestlé has had a checkered past regarding social responsibility
and environment stewardship, and they have been the focus of activist’s scorn and
intense media scrutiny.
10
Nestlé’s response is to increase their commitment to society
and nutrition demonstrated through their creating shared value (CSV) program that
works on the individual, community, and planet level on programs in sustainability,
nutrition, water, and rural development. In their 2017 report, Nestlé outlines one of
its initiatives to empower the next generation of farmers. The Farmer Connect
Program helps new young farmers to get the necessary training and mentoring to succeed as prosperous farmers. The benefit to Nestlé is to develop a strong farmer base
that will provide a reliable, low-cost, high-quality source of supply for their products.
11
Box 7.1 Launching Collaborative Corporate Social Responsibility
Initiatives: The Consumer Goods Forum
1
The Consumer Goods Forum
12
(CGF) is an international industry association
that represents the leading consumer goods retailers and manufacturers globally. With member companies such as Nestlé, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Procter
& Gamble, the CGF strives to drive positive change through and on behalf of
its members. The CGF mission is focused on four pillars and seven strategic
initiatives. Two of its key strategic pillars are Social and Environmental
Sustainability and Health & Wellness.
The CGF provides a global platform for collaborations between members
and NGOs, governments, public health authorities, and other relevant actors to
discuss areas for program acceleration and change. For many companies, it is
difficult to engage with the variety of NGOs, governments, and agencies on a
one-to-one basis. Through the CGF initiatives, the member companies can
engage with leading NGO organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund,
Greenpeace, International Labor Organization, and United Nations Industrial
Development Organization. The CGF provides a more unified forum of
engagement as well as a strong communication vehicle for its members to
show their motivation and persistence toward their CSR goals. Each of the
strategic initiatives is led by co-sponsors from the consumer product manufacturing companies and retailers.
10 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-09-21/nestl-makes-billions-bottling-waterit-pays-nearly-nothing-for
11 https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/asset-library/documents/library/documents/corporate_social_responsibility/nestle-in-society-summary-report-2017-en.pdf
12 www.theconsumergoodsforum.com
(continued)
7 Innovation and the Quest to Feed the World
benefits that attention to the living conditions of workers brings to their businesses
(Ortega et al. 2016).
Nestlé, www.nestle.com, is a company that has a 150-year history in the food
industry. Its global reach and involvement in everything from chocolate to water and
nutritional foods have given it the opportunity to work with agricultural operations
throughout the world. Nestlé has had a checkered past regarding social responsibility
and environment stewardship, and they have been the focus of activist’s scorn and
intense media scrutiny.
10
Nestlé’s response is to increase their commitment to society
and nutrition demonstrated through their creating shared value (CSV) program that
works on the individual, community, and planet level on programs in sustainability,
nutrition, water, and rural development. In their 2017 report, Nestlé outlines one of
its initiatives to empower the next generation of farmers. The Farmer Connect
Program helps new young farmers to get the necessary training and mentoring to succeed as prosperous farmers. The benefit to Nestlé is to develop a strong farmer base
that will provide a reliable, low-cost, high-quality source of supply for their products.
11
Box 7.1 Launching Collaborative Corporate Social Responsibility
Initiatives: The Consumer Goods Forum
1
The Consumer Goods Forum
12
(CGF) is an international industry association
that represents the leading consumer goods retailers and manufacturers globally. With member companies such as Nestlé, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Procter
& Gamble, the CGF strives to drive positive change through and on behalf of
its members. The CGF mission is focused on four pillars and seven strategic
initiatives. Two of its key strategic pillars are Social and Environmental
Sustainability and Health & Wellness.
The CGF provides a global platform for collaborations between members
and NGOs, governments, public health authorities, and other relevant actors to
discuss areas for program acceleration and change. For many companies, it is
difficult to engage with the variety of NGOs, governments, and agencies on a
one-to-one basis. Through the CGF initiatives, the member companies can
engage with leading NGO organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund,
Greenpeace, International Labor Organization, and United Nations Industrial
Development Organization. The CGF provides a more unified forum of
engagement as well as a strong communication vehicle for its members to
show their motivation and persistence toward their CSR goals. Each of the
strategic initiatives is led by co-sponsors from the consumer product manufacturing companies and retailers.
10 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-09-21/nestl-makes-billions-bottling-waterit-pays-nearly-nothing-for
11 https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/asset-library/documents/library/documents/corporate_social_responsibility/nestle-in-society-summary-report-2017-en.pdf
12 www.theconsumergoodsforum.com
(continued)
7 Innovation and the Quest to Feed the World