Nestlé Central and West Africa launches new Nestlé in society report
The new Nestlé Central and West Africa – Nestlé in society 2015 report has been launched.
It is the first report by Nestlé in the Central and West Africa Region (CWAR) that provides insight into the company’s progress in the areas of nutrition, water and environmental and social sustainability in the region.
“We have been present in Central and West Africa for almost 60 years and remain committed to this region of limitless possibilities,” said Kais Marzouki, Market Head for Nestlé CWAR.
“Behind each Nestlé product there are farmers, workers, suppliers, distributors and retailers who are working hard to ensure that we continue to deliver high-quality, nutritious and tasty food and beverages to over 350 million consumers daily. Through this report, we recognise their support and commitment to our company.
“This report also aims to provide our stakeholders with insight of how we are meeting our societal commitments, the progress we have made over the years and the challenges we face,” he added.
Nestlé CWAR is continuing to meet its pledges, which are part of the 39 commitments that the Nestlé Group aims to meet by 2020 or earlier, to support its long-term goal of Creating Shared Value. This is the company’s way of doing business that aims to provide opportunities and improve livelihoods for the communities in which it operates, while developing its own activities.
For example in 2015, Nestlé CWAR delivered 57.5 billion servings of fortified food and beverages in the region to address the prevalent health issue of the lack of micronutrients that are missing from people’s diets.
In the same year more than 19,000 farmers in Côte d’Ivoire were trained on good agricultural practices as part of the Nescafé Plan. Over 32,000 farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and 6,500 farmers in Ghana were also trained as part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, which aims to increase farmers’ profitability and produce high-quality cocoa.
Simultaneously, Nestlé CWAR continues to improve sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services across the region. In Côte d’Ivoire, over 280,000 people now have access to clean and safe water and more than 240,000 have benefitted from hygiene awareness training.
Across the company’s operations, GHG emissions were reduced by 20% between 2010-2015. At its Agbara factory in Nigeria, the tri-generation power plant generates electrical power as prime energy, while recycling the heat generated from its exhaust gases produces chilled water and hot water. This has cut CO2 emissions by 5,000 tonnes per year since its construction in 2012.
Nestlé CWAR has also promoted gender balance in the workplace. As well as increasing the employment of women in management positions by 10% across the region, the company launched the Nestlé CWAR Parental Policy to provide a conducive environment for employees who breastfeed. Established standards include a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave, with a right to extend leave for up to six months for all primary carers of newborns, including male employees and adoptive parents.
