Processor Handbook - Innovation Center for US Dairy

More documents

Recommendations

Info

5 Sustainability Reports Highlight Performance 42 Dairy companies can use the indicators and metrics from the Guide to communicate their performance. There are several ways through which dairy companies can communicate, including websites, social media, blogs, brochures, newsletters and sustainability or corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. Sustainability reporting Organizations worldwide are publishing their sustainability progress in annual reports, in addition to their financial accounts. There are various reasons for companies to do this, including building a stronger reputation as a company, enhancing relationships with stakeholders and responding to requests for information from investors. Worldwide over 6,000 sustainability reports were published in 2012 (www.corporateregister.com). These reports include information about progress and management of impacts on the environment, community, economies as well as their internal operations. More than 3,000 organizations in 60 countries measure and disclose GHG emissions and climate change strategy through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Ninety-five percent of the 250 largest companies in the world (G250 companies) now report on their corporate responsibility activities. KPMG’s research shows that organizations measure and report about sustainability for many different reasons ranging from concern for their reputation to their pursuit of innovation and learning opportunities. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index has grown to $10 billion in market capitalization and an estimated $3.07 trillion out of $25.2 trillion in the U.S. investment marketplace are considered socially responsible investments (SRI). The Innovation Center has published several annual sustainability reports that include information about progress made on its sustainability projects as well trends in the U.S. dairy industry. Dairy companies can use these reports as a resource for their own communications. The following organizations publish a sustainability report: • Danone “The Dannon Company in U.S.” • Darigold, Inc. • Dean Foods • General Mills • Glanbia • Hilmar Cheese Company • Kraft Foods Inc. • The Kroger Company • Land O’ Lakes, Inc • McDonald’s • Nestlé • PepsiCo Inc. • Retail Industry Leaders Association • Safeway • Syngenta • Walmart • GRI-based report More information about the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report and trends in reporting can be found at www.USDairy.com/ Sustainability/Reporting/Pages/Home.aspx. GRI’s role in reporting Companies worldwide are increasingly publishing sustainability reports using the guidance from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), including various U.S. dairy companies. Therefore, the Guide’s environmental and some community indicators are developed in line with the GRI’s indicators. The Innovation Center recommends that dairy companies consult the GRI Guidelines to learn more about ways in which to develop sustainability reports. These guidelines are available for free at www.globalreporting.org. Tips to Create a CSR Report Dairy companies can use the indicators from the Guide to inform their sustainability communications and sustainability reports. The indicators presented in this handbook and the Guide are intended to be used by dairy companies to track and communicate progress. Dairy Plant Smart TM can be used at the plant level and, in the future, at the company level. At this time if dairy companies seek to communicate performance, information from Plant Smart must be “rolled-up” to the company level for reporting purposes. Dairy companies should indicate which plants are included in their communications. When communicating sustainability information, there are several steps that companies should consider when deciding “what” and “how” to communicate the information. The GRI Guidelines provide more guidance on defining the report content and quality of information. DRAFT Processor Handbook to the Guide, April 2013
Tip 1. Identify targets A good starting point for deciding what to communicate is to clearly identify the company’s primary audience(s), and their interest in sustainability and knowledge about the various sustainability topics. Also, determine the most effective communication channels to communicate with them. There are various ways to identify the audience and determine what and how to communicate. Methods for communicating include: surveys, market reports, stakeholder meetings and visits, or look at what peers are doing. Internal research can help. Ask company leaders and colleagues question like: • What information is most relevant for customers or primary audience targets to know • What information will influence the audience’s opinion about the company • If particular information is left out, will the company’s sustainability communications be perceived as “green washing” (claims or benefits that may be viewed as exaggerated or not provable) by contacts or stakeholders Tip 2. Educate colleagues Communicating about new topics like sustainability can be uncomfortable for a company and its management team members, who may not be as familiar with the issue. They may need to understand, first, the benefits and value of communicating about the company’s sustainability performance and progress. • Show examples about what peers are doing. • Share the information gathered about the audience targets. • Provide evidence gathered or requests received from market and stakeholder demands and interests. • Create a draft of the communication. This type of communication can bring new value to the forefront and enhance organizational pride – both of which can be shared with key contacts, stakeholders and investors. Sustainability communications also shows how the company contributes to the community and industry, and, most importantly, is being a responsible corporate citizen. Tip 3. Clarify scope If the scope or boundary of the dairy company’s information differs from the scope of the indicators as highlighted in the Guide, it should explain the difference and reasons for the deviation. Tip 4. Explain the context When communicating the information about a processor’s or manufacturer’s sustainability performance, it is important to provide readers with contextual information including management strategies, priorities, risks and opportunities related to the environmental, community and economic topics in the Guide. The contextual information enables stakeholders and reviewers to understand the dairy company, its operational systems and the situation in which it operates more fully. Tip 5. Compare performance Dairy companies should establish the baseline or benchmark year against which it will compare and communicate progress on an annual base. Companies should communicate changes in the way it measures sustainability performance over the years, or how results and numbers are influenced by internal or external reasons like mergers, selling of production units or supply chain issues. Tip 6. Set expectations Setting clear expectations is important. Let the audience know the timeline for highlighted information (or projects). • What is the progress, benefits or value made in the last year, month or different period of time Tip 7. Ensure credibility Credibility and the “provability” of the information that a company shares about sustainability are crucial. • How does the company guarantee that the information is correct, factual and true • Is the information credible when it is communicated • Do information points support the story • Has the information been cross-checked and verified by colleagues If exact numbers are not available at the time, clarity and accuracy is important. Communicate the facts to the reader – for example, “we are fine-tuning our measurement system” or “these numbers are estimates.” Resources • Visit www.corporateregister.com (see “Integrated reporting). • More information about the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report and trends in sustainability reporting can be found at www.USDairy.com/ Sustainability/Reporting/Pages/Home.aspx. 5 43
Page 1 and 2: Stewardship and Sustainability Guid
Page 3 and 4: About this Resource This handbook w
Page 5 and 6: Guide 1 Guide ... Strengthening Dai
Page 7 and 8: 1 QWho defined the vision Through t
Page 9 and 10: Topics 2 Topics ... Defining What M
Page 11 and 12: kg CO 2 e per kilogram (kg) milk co
Page 13 and 14: List of Processor and Manufacturer
Page 15 and 16: Show Environmental Progress with Pl
Page 17 and 18: General Tab The General Tab acts as
Page 19 and 20: Transport Tab Energy Intensity —
Page 21 and 22: Refrigerant Tab Greenhouse Gas Inte
Page 23 and 24: Reading the Results The results sid
Page 25 and 26: Metrics 4 Metrics ... What to Measu
Page 27 and 28: Energy Intensity — Primary PM Ene
Page 29 and 30: Indirect energy: This is energy pro
Page 31 and 32: Water Why measure water Water is a
Page 33 and 34: 5. Definitions Total water discharg
Page 35 and 36: 3.2 Report the total number of empl
Page 37 and 38: 3.2 Measure and report employee par
Page 39 and 40: Monetary and Product Donations —
Page 41: Value 5 Value ... Communicating Pro
Page 45 and 46: Glossary of Terms and Definitions 6
Page 47 and 48: 6 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

Processor Handbook - Innovation Center for US Dairy

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?