Cereal Partners

The WWF Soy Scorecard 2016 rates companies on their use of responsible soy, grown without damaging the environment and harming people. This company failed to respond to requests for information.
[Source 2016][More on Forests]

Nestle refuse to agree to Baby Milk Action's four point plan. The four point plan was put to Nestle in 2001 as a way to call off the international boycott on Nestle products. Nestle rejected the plan immediately and since 2005 have refuse to debate the issue. See the plan and Nestle's response.
[Source 2012][More on Human Rights]

Specifics on why target Nestle is the continued target of the boycott; and a look at what Nestle does and does not do in the light of what it says it does.
[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]

In early 1997, Syed Aamar Raza a Medical Delegate for Nestle in Pakistan, responsible for promoting breastmilk substitutes and infant cereals, resigned from his job. Six months later he issued his former employers a Legal Notice (dated 12/11/1997), attaching nearly 80 pages of evidence of the company's unethical marketing practices. These alleged practises included bribing doctors to recommend Nestle products, being paid commission on his sales, something banned under the code and handing out samples at baby shows.
[Source 1997][More on Human Rights]

The Guardian ran a report (2007)'Milking it' by Joanna Moorhead who travelled to Bangladesh to investigate whether Nestle and other baby milk firms were still using aggressive marketing tactics in Bangladesh and found them to be still pushing their product on mothers.
[Source 2007][More on Human Rights]

This International Labor Rights Forum report highlights corporations known for violating workers' freedom of association and right to organise. This company was selected on the basis of their ties to violence against trade unions and suppression of the universal right to organise. [listed under Information due to age of report]
[Source 2009][More on Workers Rights]

The film Formula For Disaster (2007) highlighted many of the problems. Including how baby food companies undermine breastfeeding, the conditions under which mothers are using formula, company promotions and health workers explaining the pressure they are under to recommend company products.
[Source 2007][More on Human Rights]

Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.
[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]

The South African civil rights initiative, AfriForum, launched an international campaign calling on people to boycott all Nestle products, unless Nestle decided by 7 October 2009 to stop buying milk from Grace Mugabe ' wife of the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe. From 4 October 2009, Nestle stopped buying any milk from Grace Mugabe.
[Source x][More on Human Rights]

This company has signed a letter of intent (https://bit.ly/2rdBlwn) to participate in the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which claims will lift 50 million people in Africa out of poverty by 2022. But according to a 2015 report by ActionAid, the scheme will benefit multinational companies at the expense of small-scale farmers and is likely to increase poverty and inequality in Africa. Launched in 2012, the New Alliance provides aid money from rich countries like the US and the UK, and helps big business invest in the African agricultural sector. But in return, African countries are required to change their land, seed and trade rules in favour of big business. The New Alliance will: Make it easier for big corporations to grab land in Africa: Prevent farmers from breeding, saving and exchanging seeds: Heavily promote chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which increase farmers’ risk of debt as well as damaging the environment and farmers' health: Replace family farms with low paid, insecure jobs; and Prevent countries from restricting crop exports, even at times of domestic shortage.
[Source 2015][More on Finance]

In 2010 Nestle responded to Greenpeace evidence of the Sinar Mas group's destructive practices by cancelling their contracts with the Indonesian palm oil and paper giant. Greenpeace has documented Sinar Mas repeatedly breaking industry guidelines, Indonesian law and its own public statements, razing rainforests to the ground in its race to produce palm oil.
[Source 2010][More on Palm Oil]

This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source.
[Source 2019][More on Oceans]

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; put a price on carbon; commit to 100% renewable power; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty; remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020; develop low carbon action plan.
[Source 2017][More on Climate Change]

When joining the Fair Labor Association (FLA) this company committed to promoting and complying with international labor standards throughout their supply chain. The FLA does not accredit the company itself; rather, they accredit the company's labor compliance program. Being granted accreditation implies that their workplace standards program is substantially in compliance with the FLA Code.
[Source 2016][More on Workers Rights]

This company was included in Bloomberg's 2019 Gender-Equality Index, a list of 230 companies committed to transparency in gender reporting and advancing women's equality in the workplace.
[Source 2019][More on Human Rights]

In 2014 Nestle announced a comprehensive and ambitious animal welfare program, which will cleanse its supply chain of the following practices: confinement of sows in gestation crates, calves in veal crates and egg-laying chickens in cages; the forced rapid growth of chickens used for meat products; and the harsh cutting of the horns, tails and genitals of farm animals without painkillers.
[Source 2014][More on Factory Farming]

This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
[Source 2020][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

In March 2013 Nestle published "a set of forward-looking commitments to society and on environment sustainability it aims to meet by 2020 or earlier." The company has identified 30 goals in the areas of nutrition, water, rural development, sustainability and compliance in its new report, 'Nestle in Society: Creating Shared Value and meeting our commitments 2012'.
[Source 2013][More on Governance]

This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a Bronze Member of the Sustainable Brands Network, the leading peer to peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately become those leaders of the next sustainable economy.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Deloitte developed a Zero Impact Growth Monitor that was used in 2012 to assess and rank 65 different companies' attempts to become more sustainable. Six companies reached the 'Ecosystem' level: Puma, Nike, Nestle, Natura, Unilever and Ricoh. These pioneering companies have not only set measurable and ambitious mid- to long-term targets (beyond 2020), but have also embedded their sub-policies in a holistic strategic vision of their attempt to minimize their negative environmental and societal impacts.
[Source 2012][More on Governance]

This company has signed up to the World Cocoa Foundation's frameworks to combat deforestation in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, signifying commitments on forest protection and restoration, and sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods.
[Source 2017][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Greenpeace launched a campaign in March 2010 asserting that Nestle, maker of Kit Kat, uses palm oil from companies that are trashing Indonesian rainforests, threatening the livelihoods of local people and pushing orang-utans towards extinction. Two months later Nestle announced a commitment to stop using products that come from rainforest destruction.
[Source 2010][More on Palm Oil]

According to the Nestle website, Nestle agrees with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other leading medical and health associations that breast-milk is the best and most natural food for babies. Nestle also supports the WHO/UNICEF's Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. [Note, despite these statements, Nestle refuse to agree to Baby Milk Action's four point plan. The four point plan was put to Nestle in 2001 as a way to call off the international boycott on Nestle products.]
[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]

Latest updates on Nestle from the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations). The IUF is an international federation of trade unions representing workers.
[Source 2015][More on Workers Rights]

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) requires companies operating in California to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains. KnowTheChain.org has examined this company's disclosure statement and concluded that it addresses the majority of SB 657 requirements. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]

Over the last 60 years farming has become dependent on the intensive use of chemicals. As You Sow's 2019 report, Pesticides in the Pantry, examines the growing risks posed by the use of synthetic pesticides in agricultural supply chains to food manufacturers, and scores companies on their efforts to reduce pesticide use in their supply chains. Scores ranged from 18 to 0, with an average score of 6.1. This company received a score of 7/30.
[Source 2019][More on Product Safety]

In 2018, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of C.
[Source 2018][More on Human Rights]

Green America's 2016 Chocolate Scorecard rates companies on their use of ethically sourced, organic and non-GMO ingredients in their chocolate products. This company received a 'C+' grade, as they only certify a portion of their chocolate products at present.
[Source 2016][More on Workers Rights]

This company received a score of 57.1/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
[Source 2017][More on Sustainability Reporting]

This company is listed on the Facing Finance website as a company that manufactures weapons or profits from violations of human rights, pollution, corruption, or international law. Follow link for further details.
[Source 2014]

The Corporate Research Project's Corporate Rap Sheets are dossiers summarising the most significant crimes, violations and other questionable activities of the world's largest and most controversial companies. Follow link to see this company's Corporate Rap Sheet. "One of the world's most controversial corporations. For more than two decades the Nestle name was widely associated with a controversy, including a longstanding boycott, over its marketing of infant formula in poor countries. More recently, the company has been one of the primary targets of the global movement against the bottled water industry. The company's hard-line labor relations practices in poor countries have made it a villain in the eyes of the international union movement."
[Source 2018]

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
[Source 2014]

[Source]

This company has products rated RED in the Centre for Food Safety's True Food Shopper's Guide (USA). Products on the RED list contain ingredients that come from the most common GE crops (corn, soy, canola, cotton). Companies with products on this list have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so.
[Source 2013][More on Genetic Engineering]

Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.
[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]

This company is a partner of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which claims will lift 50 million people in Africa out of poverty by 2022. But according to a 2015 report by ActionAid, the scheme will benefit multinational companies at the expense of small-scale farmers and is likely to increase poverty and inequality in Africa. Launched in 2012, the New Alliance provides aid money from rich countries like the US and the UK, and helps big business invest in the African agricultural sector. But in return, African countries are required to change their land, seed and trade rules in favour of big business. The New Alliance will: Make it easier for big corporations to grab land in Africa: Prevent farmers from breeding, saving and exchanging seeds: Heavily promote chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which increase farmers’ risk of debt as well as damaging the environment and farmers' health: Replace family farms with low paid, insecure jobs; and Prevent countries from restricting crop exports, even at times of domestic shortage.
[Source 2015][More on Finance]

General Mills and Nestle began a joint venture in 1991 to produce breakfast cereals called Cereal Partners. The company is headquartered in Switzerland, and markets cereals in more than 130 countries. Nestle is the target of a long-standing boycott call.
[Source][More on Governance]

As a result of a campaign run by the Rainforest Action Network, General Mills announced a comprehensive palm oil policy that puts them at the front of the pack when it comes to American companies addressing the problems with palm oil.
[Source 2010][More on Palm Oil]

In 2016 General Mills joined Campbell's in being among the major food companies that have broken ranks with the industry's strong opposition to mandatory labeling laws. The company has announced it will label GMOs on all products in the USA, following the standards set by Vermont's labeling law until a national standard is set.
[Source 2016][More on Genetic Engineering]

In May 2014 Oxfam singled out Kellogg and General Mills as two of the worst food companies on climate and called on them to lead the sector towards more responsible policies and practices. In July 2014 Oxfam welcomed a commitment from General Mills to implement industry-leading measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chains and press for political action to address climate change.
[Source 2014][More on Climate Change]

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020.
[Source 2017][More on Climate Change]

This company is listed on the EPA Green Power Partnership website (USA), as using renewable energy for 39% of its electricity use for its USA operations.
[Source 2020][More on Climate Change]

This company was recognised as a leading organisation in the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index. Participants are scored on three areas: Best practices in recruitment, retention and advancement of people from under-represented groups - women, racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people; creating an inclusive culture through leadership, accountability, communications and employee engagement; and transparency in willingness to share workforce demographic data.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]

This company was named in the Working Mother 100 Best Companies 2018 for being a mum-friendly employer. Listed companies help working parents succeed at home and at work by providing expanded parental leaves, more flexibility with work hours, assistance for special needs, and opportunities for career development.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]

In 2015 General Mills received praise from the Humane Society for its commitment to working toward 100 percent cage free eggs for their US operations.
[Source 2015][More on Factory Farming]

In Jan 2013 General Mills received praise from the Humane Society for announcing that it will eliminate gestation crates - small cages used to confine breeding pigs - from its pork supply chains.
[Source 2013][More on Factory Farming]

This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
[Source 2020][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of Guidance, a pre-competitive global initiative, convened by Quantis, which aims to provide a methodological guide with credible references that companies can use to account for the climate change impacts of their efforts on sustainable forests and agriculture in an accurate and credible manner.
[Source 2016][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company has signed up to the World Cocoa Foundation's frameworks to combat deforestation in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, signifying commitments on forest protection and restoration, and sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods.
[Source 2017][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of The Sustainability Consortium, an organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. They develop transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
[Source x][More on Sustainability Reporting]

In 2016 Greenpeace published a report on the progress towards zero deforestation in the palm oil supply chains of several multinational companies. Companies were assessed on three criteria: responsible sourcing, transparency and industry reform. This company was rated as 'getting there'.
[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 assesses 173 companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains; and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain. This company is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 11.5 out of a possible total of 22.
[Source 2019][More on Palm Oil]

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
[Source 2018][More on Human Rights]

The 2017 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 4, "Making Progress on Implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
[Source 2018][More on Animal Rights]

Oxfam's 2016 Behind the Brands Scorecard assesses the agricultural sourcing policies of the world's 10 largest food and beverage companies. It exclusively focuses on publicly available information that relates to the policies of these companies on their sourcing of agricultural commodities from developing countries. This company scored 40% (some progress).
[Source 2016][More on Governance]

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
[Source 2014]