Danone has obtained worldwide B Corp certification. Large parts of the company were already certified, but with the new accreditation, the entire global network of offices and production sites now meets B Lab’s sustainability standards.
Largest B Corp company in the world
After a ten-year process, more than 200 legal entities in over sixty countries are now certified. This means that Danone employees represent around 9 % of the global B Corp movement. The company took its first steps in 2015, with certifications in Spain, followed by France, the United States, Egypt, Japan, and South Africa. The process was completed this month with the certification of parent company Danone SA.
The process included an independent assessment of the impact on governance, employees, the community, and the environment. Key priorities include the development of more plant-based and hybrid foods, clean and energy-efficient factories (for example, the two Belgian sites were both named Factory of the Future again, thanks to water recovery projects), and training for employees.
Encouraging other companies
CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique calls the recognition a confirmation of the company culture: “Becoming a leading B Corp is evidence of Danone’s enduring commitment to combine performance and responsibility – which is in our DNA.” According to him, the certification has accelerated Danone’s sustainability program.
Clay Brown, Co-Lead Executive at B Lab, emphasises Danone’s role in the growth of the movement: “Danone has helped raise awareness of what good business looks like – meeting the expectations of increasingly conscious consumers.” He points out that Danone has guided other companies through initiatives such as the B Movement Builders program, helping to increase the movement’s impact. The company is also continuing to work with B Lab on the question of how multinationals can best comply with the standards.
