Nestle releases 2009 report on creating shared value

Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) has released a 2009 report titled “Creating Shared Value, Our Path Forward,” on how the company is locally implementing its global business strategy of creating value for society while creating value for its shareholders. The report describes the Company’s sustainable Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives in nutrition, health and wellness; rural community development; and water and environment.

“For us at Nestle, Creating Shared Value means looking at the multiple points where we touch society and making long-term investments that both benefit the public and our shareholders. Our investments must be good not only for the company but also for the country where we operate and for its people,” NPI chairman and CEO Nandu Nandkishore said in the 60-page CV report, which uses recycled paper.

The CSV report details the efforts of Nestle in promoting nutrition, health and wellness among Filipinos. These include enriching popular Nestle products with essential nutrients as an effective and economical way of bringing good nutrition to a vast number of consumers who need them the most, and educating them on the importance of proper nutrition, diet and physical activity under the Company’s Choose Wellness Campaign.

The report describes the company’s long running agronomy assistance program to help coffee farmers eearn more by improving their crops in terms of quantity and quality, as well as efforts to develop the youth and provide livelihood skills and opportunities to barangay residents.

Beyond the barangays, Nestle has developed a platform for providing livelihood to thousands of otherwise unemployed citizens throughout the country, via the Micro-Distributorship program in which high-school graduates sell Nestle products to sari-sari stores; the Ice cream Street Selling Program; and the Business on Wheels Program, with members selling Nestle products to carinderias.

The report describes how NPI’s packaging water, and energy programs have generated savings, and helped promote the company’s efforts in environmental protection and preservation. Nestle’s packaging source reduction program has saved the company 13,180 metric tons of packaging materials since 1993, which in effect has helped reduce solid wastes. With its solid waste management program, Nestle has cut unrecoverable solid waste by 13.5 percent.

In its initiative to use water more efficiently, NPI since 2007 has cut consumption by about 16 percent, saving an average of 65,500 cubic meters annually. The company has reduced energy consumption by 30 percent since 2002, through technology-driven measures and energy housekeeping rules. Environmental conservation activities not related to direct company operations include planting trees year-round on factory sites, cleaning up rivers and mountain areas, and helping preserve marine life. Through its “Greening the Supply Chain” Program, Nestle has helped almost 200 business partners establish their own environmental management systems to enhance regulatory compliance and even operational efficiencies.

“Creating shared value is our path forward, integral to our mission of nurturing generations of Filipino families. We hope that through our sustainable CSV initiatives, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need our help the most. Along the way, we hope to be able to inspire others to do their share,” Nandkishore said.