Hershey recognised as among the ‘most just’ US businesses in latest industry study
The US-based Hershey Company has been recognised as one of America’s Most socially responsible businesses by JUST Capital and media partner CNBC for the third consecutive year, writes Neill Barston.
As the company noted, it was rated fifth in the Food, Beverage and Tobacco industry and 84 overall of the 100 firms leading the way in investing in communities and employee well-being, reducing their impact on the environment and creating a more sustainable future.
“A legacy of goodness is synonymous with the Hershey name and our 128-year history. We are focused on long-term sustainability for our business and creating a positive impact on our people and planet for years to come,” said Leigh Horner, Vice President of Global Sustainability and Corporate Communications, The Hershey Company. “Being named to the JUST 100 list recognises our steadfast commitment to doing what’s right.”
JUST Capital annually evaluates the 1,000 largest publicly traded companies in the U.S., based on a comprehensive survey conducted on public attitudes toward corporate behavior. The top 100 companies are celebrated for setting the standard in just behaviour and serving as socially responsible examples for the business community. The JUST 100 ranking comes on the heels of Hershey being named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and #1 on the Forbes’ list of the World’s Top Female Friendly Companies.
Furthermore, in its 2020 Sustainability Report, Hershey details many of the key factors that contribute to inclusion on the JUST 100 list, including setting ambitious new goals to reduce its global emissions in line with the global best practice of the Paris Agreement, to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. The company has also long been on a journey to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace through ambitious goals like increased representation and pay equity. In 2020, Hershey achieved aggregate gender pay equity in the U.S. and in 2021, aggregate pay equity for people of colour and salaried employees in the U.S.
