Hershey releases environmental, social and governance report highlighting sustainability targets

The Hershey Company has placed delivering on its sustainability goals at the heart of its 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, outlining progress on core business operating issues, writes Neill Barston.

As the business revealed at last week’s Sweets & Snacks Expo event in Chicago (see our exclusive video review of the event here), it has continued its focus on delivering a broad portfolio of products across its brands, as well as improving business resilience amid notable market challenges.

Speaking to Confectionery Production at the event, the company explained that it had enjoyed a strong performance in the past year and intended to build on its core principles to grow the business sustainably and support employment diversity (see our next edition for more).

Notably, the firm’s ESG report highlighted its inaugural double materiality assessment and an update to the company’s key human rights issues – including targeting improving lives of cocoa farming communities at the centre of its supply chain. The company added that it is also focused on reducing its environmental impact and encouraging more diversity within its workforce.

“As we continue to act on the most important areas of focus for our business, including responsible sourcing, reducing our carbon footprint, and promoting inclusivity, we are continually reminded that our progress and achievements are made possible by our employees, farmers, partners and other stakeholders who share our commitment to creating a more sustainable and equitable future,” said Michele Buck, CEO, The Hershey Company. “We are grateful for their input and support and look forward to continuing this journey together.”

Significantly, by 2030, Hershey’s Cocoa For Good strategy seeks to invest $500 million to positively impact cocoa farming communities. Hershey recently launched a new Income Accelerator in Côte d’Ivoire, a five-year program based on proven poverty reduction strategies that provides cash transfers and investment in Village Savings and Loan Associations to supplement farmer income and combat poverty. Additional cocoa highlights from 2022 include:

Furthermore, in 2022, Hershey achieved 77% cocoa sourcing visibility by volume in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and is on track to reach 100% sourcing visibility by 2025. As part of Hershey’s commitment to prevent and eliminate child labor, participating farms are covered by Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS). In 2022, 72% of farmers in Ivory Coast and Ghana were covered by CLMRS, on track to reach 100% by 2025.

The company added that its commitment to improving farmer livelihoods is grounded in empowering and investing in cocoa communities to foster a more equitable and sustainable cocoa supply chain. This includes supporting initiatives that provide financial literacy and agricultural training to farmers. Additionally, farmers in Ghana can contribute to emissions reductions through programs like the World Bank Carbon Fund and the Nsuoekyir Apimanim’s Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) and earn income as a result.

Across its global operations and with the dedication of employees – including its passionate group of Energy Champions – the company is reducing its environmental impact with a goal to achieve a 50% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 against a 2018 baseline. In 2022, the company’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions data received limited assurance by EY. Additional environment highlights from 2022 include:

In addition, Hershey’s $3 million investment in reporting systems provides real-time utility usage data for electricity, natural gas and water at each of its facilities globally, aiming to reduce energy intensity by approximately 10% over the next five years. These systems were installed in U.S. facilities in 2022, with the remainder to be installed in international facilities during 2023.

Leveraging biofuel to reduce carbon intensity: Hershey is taking action to limit and, when possible, remove carbon-intensive fuels from its facilities. Most recently, Hershey’s India plant transitioned from using coal to rice husks as biofuel to power production.

Enabled by Hershey’s participation in the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants programme, the company has improved the energy intensity of its manufacturing sites by 6.1% compared to a 2018 baseline. With support from Hershey’s Energy and Water Management Steering Committee, the company improved global water intensity by 6% in 2022 with a 14% improvement in water intensity at international facilities (compared to 2021). The company also invested nearly $1.5 million in high-efficiency equipment to reduce well water usage at our company headquarters in Hershey, PA.

In terms of its employee policies, the company has a five-year diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) framework – the company continues to develop and invest in a pipeline that provides opportunities for all. Most recently, Hershey was named to DiversityInc’s 2023 ‘Top Companies for Diversity’ list – underscoring the company’s ongoing work to create an inclusive environment that fosters innovation and growth. Additional highlights from 2022 include:

Furthermore, it has also launched its’Say Hola’ initiative at the company’s Hazleton, Pennsylvania plant, ‘Say Hola’ seamlessly integrated both Spanish and English-speaking employees under one roof, equipped with bilingual trainings, managers and workplace materials. The program improved hiring and retention and reduced recruitment costs. Today, more than 90% of applicants have the desired manufacturing experience, compared to 50% before the programme launch.

Moreover, as part of its commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, veterans are an important part of the company’s workforce, bringing specialised perspectives, experiences and skill sets to the business. In 2023, the company will expand its partnership with three military hiring organisations and aims to increase veteran hiring by 4%. Under the guidance of its Veteran Business Resource Group (employee resource group), Hershey joined the National Veterans Business Development Council and donated to Veterans Outreach of PA, a nonprofit that supports homeless veterans.

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