The Arnott’s Group has released its 2023 Sustainability Report, recording headway in the areas of emissions reduction and tracking, packaging recyclability and sustainable sourcing of ingredients.
Arnott’s also released its first ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan, an agreed framework to develop improved cultural awareness across the business and the promotion of reconciliation through establishing meaningful partnerships with First Nations businesses and peoples.
In its 2022 report, Arnott's worked on creating a more accountable and transparent supply chain, committed to renewable energy solutions, widely adopted the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), and provided more choice of food options and guidance on nutrition to consumers.
Arnott’s Group CEO, George Zoghbi, said he was incredibly proud of the strides the business had taken amidst a backdrop of competing external pressures, including rising inflation and global supply chain challenges.
“This year, many businesses have had to ask themselves the difficult question of how they can resist pressures to de-prioritise sustainability, particularly when the price tag is high or where the return on investment is not immediate.
“Despite these pressures, The Arnott’s Group has remained laser focused on progress in this space, recognising that our sustainability challenges and our business ambitions are inextricably linked – and that to overcome the challenges of the future, you must weather the challenges of the present,” said Zoghbi.
In charge of steering the sustainability agenda, Arnott’s Group chief transformation officer, Simon Lowden said Arnott’s needed to use its influence as an iconic food manufacturer to partner with industry in order to chart a path forward.
“Our sustainability ambitions can only be achieved if we can see the full picture of our impact and connect the dots between our past, and our future – between our suppliers, our operations and our customers. All with the goal of progressing toward our ambition for a sustainable future,” said Lowden.
Some of the key highlights from the 2023 report include:
- The installation of 2,100 solar panels across two manufacturing sites and corporate head office as part of our plan to transition to 100 per cent renewable electricity at these sites by 2029;
- partnering with Microsoft to become the first business in Australia to deploy its Microsoft Sustainability Manager solution;
- eliminating 500+ tonnes of packaging from products;
- participating in a program with Allied Pinnacle and Cool Soils to measure the emissions baseline from 10 soft wheat growers across 1,417 hectares in Australia;
- 98 per cent of Australian ingredient and packaging suppliers committing to The Arnott’s Group’s Responsible Supplier Code;
- one third of products sold in Australia having Health Star Ratings of 3.5 or higher, two years ahead of schedule;
- increased our range of portion control snacks in Australia by 41 per cent (compared to FY21);
- provided consumers in Australia with almost 320 million servings of whole grains, 1.2 million kgs of fibre, 140 million servings of vegetables and 36.5 million servings of fruit;
Arnott's recently unveiled its Reconciliation Action Plan artwork, Awa Nara by Saretta Fielding. - more than 563,000 meals donated to Foodbank Australia who provides daily food support to Aussie families in need, and
- received final endorsement from Reconciliation Australia for the ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan, and unveiled RAP artwork, Awa Nara by Saretta Fielding.
