Climate Change Data

Bel Group

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022)

Reporting Period: 2018

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Farmer Sustainability
  • Animal Welfare
  • Pasture Grazing
  • Sustainable and Local Animal Feeding
  • Environmental Footprint
  • Nutritional Quality and Safety

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

  • Increasing milk production without compromising the planet’s resources, the environment or our lasting relationships with dairy farmers
Mitigation Strategies
  • Developing a charter of commitments based on 6 strategic drivers with targets to be achieved by 2025
  • Developing new pathways through our “Farming for the Future” scheme

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Sustainable and traceable supply chain systems (RTRS, RSPO or equivalent) for imported soy and PKE
  • Non-GMO animal feed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Science Based Targets initiative

Reporting Period: 2020

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:6 million metric tons CO2e (2019)
Renewable Energy Share:47% (2020)
Total Energy Consumption:331,405 MWh (2020)
Water Consumption:5,241,868 m3 (2020)
Waste Generated:49,558 tons (2020)
Carbon Intensity:278 kg CO2 eq./metric ton produced (2020)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Promoting sustainable and regenerative agriculture
  • Contributing to a healthier diet
  • Fighting climate change and reducing its environmental footprint
  • Designing responsible packaging
  • Increasing the accessibility of its products

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 4.5% from 2017 to 2020.
  • Reduced water consumption per metric ton produced by 48% between 2008 and 2020.
  • 96% of Bel’s paper/cardboard packaging contained over 85% recycled and/or certified origin fibers.

Social Achievements

  • Launched Bel’Come, a digital onboarding program for new employees.
  • Gender parity achieved on the Executive Committee.
  • Implemented “Healthy Smiles” nutritional education program in 31 subsidiaries.

Governance Achievements

  • Merged CSR and Finance into a single division.
  • Renewed agreement with the Bel West Producers Association (APBO) for sustainable dairy practices.
  • Three ethics alerts submitted and processed.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve carbon neutrality for Scopes 1 and 2 by 2025.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 (vs 2017).
  • Reduce Scope 3 emissions by 27% by 2030 (vs 2017).
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce water consumption by 80% by 2025 (vs 2008).

Environmental Challenges

  • Covid-19 pandemic impacting operations and supply chains.
  • Climate change impacting water resources and agricultural production.
  • Maintaining ethical practices throughout the supply chain.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Implemented strict health and safety measures for employees during the pandemic.
  • Developed action plans to increase resilience to climate change and water stress in dairy supply basins.
  • Strengthened ethics and compliance mechanisms, including risk mapping and training programs.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 69% of purchases by value assessed by EcoVadis (2020)

Responsible Procurement
  • Sustainable Purchasing Charter

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Water shortages, extreme weather
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact

Certifications: ISO 14001

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 2 (Zero Hunger)
  • Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
  • Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Bel's initiatives contribute to these goals through sustainable agriculture, healthier food, climate action, responsible packaging, and product accessibility.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Plant-based Boursin, Mini Babybel Protein

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (2020)
Renewable Energy Share:67% (2021)
Total Energy Consumption:292,912 MWh/year (2021)
Water Consumption:4,837,651 m3/year (2021)
Waste Generated:48,692 tons/year (2021)
Carbon Intensity:249 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per metric ton produced (2021)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Sustainable and regenerative agriculture
  • Healthier food
  • Fight against climate change
  • Responsible packaging
  • Accessibility and affordability of products

Environmental Achievements

  • Net reduction of 1/4 of greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain (compared to 2017, and taking growth into account)
  • Reduced GHG emissions by 13.49% in intensity compared to 2017
  • Reduced water consumption by 47% since 2008
  • 95% of Bel’s product packaging was recyclable-ready and/or biodegradable

Social Achievements

  • 81% of the Group’s employees applaud workplace safety at Bel
  • 72% of all products for children and families comply with the Bel Nutri+ promise
  • Launched Your Voice, an employee commitment program
  • Launched Actors for Good, a program aimed at raising employee awareness of social responsibility issues

Governance Achievements

  • Creation of a “Risk and Compliance” department
  • Implementation of a new governance structure to address the challenges of ethics and compliance
  • Achieved a score of 93/100 in France's gender equality index

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Reduce Scopes 1 and 2 emissions by 75.6% by 2035
  • Reduce Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2035
  • Contribute to carbon neutrality along the entire value chain by 2050
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce emissions from upstream agricultural activities by 20% by 2030
  • Achieve 80% of child and family portfolio compliant with Bel Nutri+ by 2025
  • Reduce water footprint of sites by 55% by 2025
Short-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed

Environmental Challenges

  • Risks related to corruption, human rights abuses and tax evasion
  • Risks related to suppliers and the priority challenge to promote sustainable agriculture
  • Risks related to quality, food safety and product regulation
  • Risk of environmental impact from Bel’s direct and indirect operations
  • Risks related to the sustainability of natural resources and climate change
Mitigation Strategies
  • Strong governance bodies to ensure adherence to Bel’s values and principles
  • Sustainable Purchasing Charter
  • Supplier audits with EcoVadis
  • Ambitious objectives and continuous improvement plans to mitigate environmental risks
  • Action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 641 suppliers assessed (2021)

Responsible Procurement
  • Bel Sustainable Purchasing Charter
  • EcoVadis assessments

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Water shortages
  • Excessive rains
Transition Risks
  • New regulations
  • Consumer preference for lower-emission products
  • Volatility of energy prices
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products
  • Growth of plant-based products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: United Nations Global Compact, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines

Certifications: EcoVadis Platinum Medal (79/100)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger
  • Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 13: Climate Action

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Nurishh
  • Boursin Dairy Free
  • The Laughing Cow Blends

Awards & Recognition

  • EcoVadis Platinum Medal
  • Silver Award at the Grand Prix de la Good Économie 2021

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:4.4 million metric tons of CO2 (2021)
Renewable Energy Share:89%
Total Energy Consumption:287,782 MWh
Water Consumption:4,423,242 m3

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Healthier Food
  • Accessibility
  • Employee Well-being
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Responsible Packaging
  • Food Waste Reduction
  • Supply Chain Sustainability

Environmental Achievements

  • 89% of electricity consumed by sites comes from renewable sources.
  • Reduced transportation emissions by 8% (2022 vs. 2020).
  • Babybel Plant-Based pack is 97% paper, saving 18 tons of plastic per year.
  • Sablé-sur-Sarthe plant achieved ASI Performance Standard and ASI Chain of Custody Standard certifications.
  • 5 machines upgraded at Boué plant to produce single-material, recyclable compote pouches, reducing CO2 emissions by 35% compared to 2018.

Social Achievements

  • Launched "Nurture" program to support employee well-being and development.
  • 76% employee engagement rate (up 2 points from 2021).
  • Launched Diversity and Inclusion Charter.
  • Introduced two e-learning training modules on diversity and inclusion.
  • First edition of Days for Good, with over 1,000 employees participating in community service.

Governance Achievements

  • Implemented a Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework.
  • Successfully refinanced an environmental and social impact credit line of €550 million.
  • Successfully completed a Sustainability-Linked Schuldschein Loan (SSD) for €315 million.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Contribute to the carbon neutrality of the entire value chain before 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Net reduction of 1/4 of greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2035 (compared to 2017).
Short-term Goals:
  • Contribute to the carbon neutrality of production sites by 2025.
  • Achieve an aggregate score of 100% on three key stakes (people, planet, and animals) in regenerative agriculture by 2025.
  • Be ranked in the Top 5 in terms of customer satisfaction in its largest distribution countries by 2025.
  • Reach 440 million consumers by 2025.
  • Have 77% of employees committed to the Group’s mission by 2025.

Environmental Challenges

  • Upstream dairy accounts for 67% of Bel’s carbon footprint.
  • Global e-commerce market decline.
  • Inflationary economic climate impacting affordability of products.
  • Covid-19 and inflationary situation impacting Sharing Cities program.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Working with milk producers to develop sustainable agricultural practices and decarbonization plans.
  • Developing new and daring initiatives with partners, focusing on content creation and quality campaigns for e-commerce.
  • Developing partnerships to improve product accessibility, such as the MALIN program in France and special formats in dollar stores in the US.
  • Adapting Sharing Cities action plans to address challenges.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Partnerships with milk producers for sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Collaboration with Land O’Lakes on regenerative agriculture program.
  • Responsible aluminum sourcing.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Science-Based Targets Network for Nature (SBTN)

Certifications: ASI Performance Standard, ASI Chain of Custody Standard, Climate Fresk

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 15: Life on Land

Initiatives contribute to these goals through healthier food, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, responsible packaging, climate action, and biodiversity protection.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Plant-based Babybel and Boursin lines
  • Nurishh brand
  • Animal-free milk protein alternatives

Awards & Recognition

  • BELOWCARBON Project of the Year 2022 Award
  • Innovation Category Winner at the Digital Finance Awards
  • CODir ACTIVISTE Trophy
  • Special Mention in the “Hybridization of work modes” category by the jury of the Victoires des Leaders du Capital humain
  • Supply Chain Collaboration award from the Innovation Center for US Dairy
  • Sirius Award for Veggie Mondays initiative
  • “Employee Commitment to Strong Values” award for its Actors for Good program at La Conso s’engage awards