The Hershey Company on September 13 issued its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) Report. The report was launched on the anniversary of Milton S. Hershey’s birthday, in commemoration of the company’s legacy of responsible operation and of its commitment to continued progress. The CSR Report, which can be found at http://www.thehersheycompany.com/social-responsibility, outlines the company’s priorities and sets goals for improvement in key areas.
“Our belief in the importance of CSR dates to the founding of our company more than 100 years ago,” said David J. West, president and chief executive officer, The Hershey Company. “Today, CSR is an integral part of our global business strategy. Our CSR efforts stretch from our headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to our operations in countries such as Mexico and India, to the cocoa farming villages of West Africa. While we are proud of our accomplishments, including the contributions we make to children in need, we understand that much remains to be done.”
Hershey’s CSR Report outlines the company’s priorities and programs in four areas:
- Marketplace, which includes the company’s commitment to fair and ethical business dealings;
- Environment, which includes Hershey’s environmental stewardship;
- Workplace, which describes efforts to create a desirable workplace for Hershey’s employees who contribute to Hershey’s success; and
- Community, which outlines Hershey’s focus on making a positive difference in communities around the world.
Hershey’s CSR report outlines the company’s accomplishments in these areas and sets measurable goals for future progress. For example, the company has decreased energy consumption by nearly 10 percent in its manufacturing and distribution facilities since 2008. Hershey, along with others in the industry working through the World Cocoa Foundation, has taken a proactive leadership role in promoting sustainable cocoa farming practices and increasing incomes for cocoa farming families. These programs have made a positive difference in the lives of 500,000 farming families over the past decade.
In developing its CSR report, Hershey applied the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, a widely used standard that provides a framework for reporting and, most importantly, tracking progress.
