How ESG Principles Can Drive the Growth of the Vegan Cheese Sector

Food businesses wanting to manage risk, enhance their financial performance, adhere to financial regulations and underpin their brand reputation in the vegan cheese industry have banked on ESG. Companies that shun ESG factors may grapple with reputational damage; recent years have witnessed an increasing preference for sustainability fueled by heightened awareness of environmental and social issues. Plant-based cheese has grown mainstream as cheesemakers witness rising diet acceptance and a surge in dairy-free food vloggers.  

An emphasis on sustainable sourcing, treatment of employees, climate change, pollution and internal and external governance can have an overarching influence on long-term financial performance. Animal products, like dairy, notably impact the environment. Consumption of 30g of cheese per day annually can lead to 352kg of GHG emission per year, akin to driving a petrol-fueled car close to 900 miles, notes BBC.

Consumers are counting on the vegan culture to reinforce sustainability. However, investment in products with negative social externalities can be written off. Employees’ satisfaction has a positive correlation with shareholders’ returns. A strong ESG performance will muster up the confidence of employees and workers, boosting productivity. 

Is your business one of participants to the Vegan Cheese Industry? Contact us for focused consultation around ESG Investing, and help you build sustainable business practices

Upfield Navigates Environmental Impact

The environmental factor has garnered huge headlines, with dairy-free alternatives witnessing a proliferation in demand. Upfield-owned Violife, for instance, reportedly has less than 50% of the climate footprint vis-à-vis dairy cheese (of the same amount). Besides, the company claims its products use less than one-third of the land compared to dairy cheese. Upfield is contemplating eliminating 95% of plastic content from all its packaging and communicating the upsides of plant-based food through labeling carbon emissions on around 500 million packs by 2025. The Dutch food company has set an audacious goal of achieving net zero by 2050 and is committed to being 100% plant-based by 2025.

Daiya Foods Integrates Socially Responsible Practices

An invaluable part of corporate strategy has been a commitment to community, employees, health (emotional wellbeing, social wellbeing and physical wellbeing) and nutrition. Notably, Daiya’s donation to the Kingdom Acts Foundation has helped serve dietary-specific food to families across Vancouver. Furthermore, the food brand’s collaboration with FoodMesh has leveraged donations of 138,872 kg of food and saved 358,291 kg of CO2e emissions. The company asserted that it is poised to be a BCorp-certified organization—a designation for businesses that meet high standards of transparency, accountability and performance on charitable giving, employee benefits, input materials and supply chain practices. 

Kraft Heinz Invests in Good Governance for Sustainable Future

Good governance is indispensable for brands striving to be role models in the plant-based food industry. The board’s competency and diversity, along with investments in transparency, ethics & compliance, can shape the company’s outlook. The Board of Directors at Kraft Heinz oversees its ESG objectives and frameworks on matters, such as animal welfare, climate change, social issues, nutrition and wellbeing.

The ESG team spearheads the ESG Steering Committee engaging with major stakeholders, including community leaders, customers, consumers, employees, stockholders and NGOs. The U.S.-based company updates its ESG materiality assessment with a cloud-based AI software platform to underscore its sustainability strategy. The multinational food company provides ethics and compliance training to its employees on whistleblowing, conflict of interest, due diligence and IT security factors. 

As plant-based food witnesses a tectonic shift, more sustainable, affordable and healthier vegan products could be at the heart of cheese manufacturing. Leading players are championing their strategies to propel the penetration of dairy-free alternatives. The growth outlook is strong: Grand View Research inferred that the global vegan cheese market stood at USD 2.43 billion in 2021 and could observe a 12.6% CAGR between 2022 and 2030. Factors, such as responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship and adoption of socially responsible business practices (with transparency) will bring good governance to life.  

Browse more ESG Thematic Reports from the Consumer Products Sector, published by Astra - ESG Solutions

About Astra – ESG Solutions By Grand View Research

Astra is the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) arm of Grand View Research Inc. - a global market research publishing & management consulting firm.

Astra offers comprehensive ESG thematic assessment & scores across diverse impact & socially responsible investment topics, including both public and private companies along with intuitive dashboards. Our ESG solutions are powered by robust fundamental & alternative information. Astra specializes in consulting services that equip corporates and the investment community with the in-depth ESG research and actionable insight they need to support their bottom lines and their values. We have supported our clients across diverse ESG consulting projects & advisory services, including climate strategies & assessment, ESG benchmarking, stakeholder engagement programs, active ownership, developing ESG investment strategies, ESG data services, build corporate sustainability reports. Astra team includes a pool of industry experts and ESG enthusiasts who possess extensive end-end ESG research and consulting experience at a global level.

For more ESG Thematic reports, please visit Astra ESG Solutions, powered by Grand View Research

Sustainable Practices in the Food Grocery Retail Sector

 A strategic combination of brick-and-mortar stores and sustainability has come of age to help create a society free of hunger and waste—a commitment that is all but likely to foster the ESG performance of food grocery retailers. A holistic approach and concerted efforts for a circular economy have unlocked avenues of opportunities to underscore sustainability, complementing good governance, transparency, ethics, diversity, health & wellbeing, renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction.

Grocery CEOs, shoppers, vendors, investors, NGOs and government organizations are zeroing in on ESG targets to streamline the path to sustainability. A spike in greenhouse gas emissions has meant grocers have upped their efforts on environmental, social and governance fronts—known as ESG.

With consumer behavior shifting towards sustainable products, more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, food manufacturing companies have exhibited resilience. Of late, brands are not shying from making their ESG performance public, communicating their milestones and sharing credentials.

Learn more about the practices & strategies being implemented by industry participants from the Food Grocery Retail Industry ESG Thematic Report, 2023, published by Astra ESG Solutions

Walmart Echoes Green Growth

Millennials and the Gen Z population prioritize sustainability-marketed products as grocery shoppers emphasize GHG emission reduction and raw material conservation. Amidst the popularity of ready-made meals, consumers expect brands to adhere to sustainability goals. Brands are gearing to reduce virgin plastic content and invest in recyclable packaging. Walmart is heading to 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025. The behemoth aims for 20% post-consumer recycled content in private-brand product packaging across North America by 2025.

The American retail brand is on the cusp of innovation and is committed to science-based targets (SBTs) to attain a 35% reduction in absolute scopes 1 & 2 emissions by 2025. In fact, the company is on course to minimize or avoid one billion metric tons of GHG emissions (Project Gigaton) in the global value chain by 2030. It claims that over 4,500 suppliers have joined the project since 2017.

On the other side of the spectrum of opportunities and challenges, an unprecedented rise in waste has prompted Walmart to use reusable packaging containers and navigate unsold food issues. The retailer giant is aiming for zero operational waste in the U.S., Canada and Mexico by 2025. Leading brands are expected to develop an ESG impact that resonates the sentiments of the circular economy.

Kroger Insists on Food & Product Safety to Bolster Philanthropy

The COVID-19 disruption was a wake-up call for retailers to reinforce responsible sourcing and foster quality food across the supply chain. A robust social profile is paramount to provide convenience and add value to customers through the inculcation of, including but not limited to, integrity, safety, respect and inclusion. Kroger has set bullish strategies across manufacturing and distribution centers, such as environmental monitoring programs, hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls, leadership and training, food allergen control, food safety maintenance, cleaning practices and pest prevention.

Brands are positioning themselves to tap into social pillars to foster donations and meals for communities. Ever since the retail company set the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan in 2017, it has taken a giant stride to achieve the philanthropic goals of creating communities free from food waste and hunger. Kroger infers to have trained 98% of associates in personal safety, while it boasts of rescuing 94 million pounds of surplus food for donation. In 2021, the American brand asserted to have directed 546 million meals to communities.

The retailer explored diversity-focused development and learning opportunities to underpin positive change in the workplace. The company joined forces with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) to foster a diverse talent pipeline. It essentially injected around USD 450 million into associate wages and training in 2021.

Is your business one of participants to the Food Grocery Retail Industry? Contact us for focused consultation around ESG Investing, and help you build sustainable business practices

Costco Wholesale Underscores Corporate Governance

Strong corporate governance heralds a company culture that complements transparency, ethics & compliance, engagement in public policy, board diversity and human rights. The FY 2022 saw Costco make sustainability a "core part of the charter and responsibility" for the Board's Nominating and Governance Committee. It has also introduced ESG Executive Advisory Council and aligned executive compensation with ESG priorities, including but not limited to, waste reduction, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), climate and resource consumption.

Risk assessment in financial planning, strategy and business has become paramount to upholding sustainability standards. Costco has qualitatively analyzed and identified potential climate-related risks influencing the Food & Beverage and Multiline retail industries. In 2022, its global executives reportedly held in-depth climate-pertaining scenarios assessments to decipher risks and opportunities to supply chain, operations, goodwill, employees, members and products.

The retailer has taken a quantum leap in transparency through frameworks, including CDP. The retail giant has rolled out several frameworks to augment data security. The manufacturing company is counting on the NIST Cyber Security Framework (CSF), ISO27001 and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The adoption of measures, such as multi-factor authentication, phishing detection and mitigation and file integrity monitoring, has furthered the company's governance policies.

At a time when brands are grappling to protect the planet and propel their business performance, creating a transparent baseline around GHG emissions could be the silver bullet. For instance, the AEON Group has set the AEON Decarbonization Vision 2050 to minimize CO2 emissions to zero at stores by 2040, helping achieve a decarbonized society. 

Growth Of The Food Grocery Retail Market

As of 2022, the global food grocery retail market is valued at USD 11,324.4 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0%. In addition to increased grocery expenditures induced by COVID-19 lockdown, higher online grocery sales volumes, and consumer polarization, the growth is primarily attributed to these factors. As a result of the pandemic, consumers became polarized where some were ready to pay for premium-priced products. The food & grocery retail sector has been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Astra – ESG Solutions by Grand View Research

Astra is the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) arm of Grand View Research Inc. - a global market research publishing & management consulting firm.

Astra offers comprehensive ESG thematic assessment & scores across diverse impact & socially responsible investment topics, including both public and private companies along with intuitive dashboards. Our ESG solutions are powered by robust fundamental & alternative information. Astra specializes in consulting services that equip corporates and the investment community with the in-depth ESG research and actionable insight they need to support their bottom lines and their values. We have supported our clients across diverse ESG consulting projects & advisory services, including climate strategies & assessment, ESG benchmarking, stakeholder engagement programs, active ownership, developing ESG investment strategies, ESG data services, build corporate sustainability reports. Astra team includes a pool of industry experts and ESG enthusiasts who possess extensive end-end ESG research and consulting experience at a global level.

For more ESG Thematic reports, please visit Astra ESG Solutions, powered by Grand View Research

ESG Initiatives in the Online Grocery Sector

Grocery CEOs, consumers and grocers envisage online shopping as the next big thing, spurred by technological advancements and greater convenience. The COVID-19 onslaught was partly attributed to online grocery flooding the market. While leading players and startups jumped on the bandwagon, ESG watchdogs were wary of the sustainable impact the industry would have on the planet. Stakeholders are expected to harness gender equality, fair wages, waste reduction, responsible sourcing of farm produce and sound corporate governance. 

The ease of browsing, getting items ticked off and quick delivery have been a revelation—a delivery service delivering to multiple homes has negated the need to drive to the store. More than 17 million metric tons of CO2 pollution are attributed to weekly household trips to the grocery store, a report cited by the U.S. EPA claimed. Incumbent players have furthered investments in electric vehicles (EVs) to offset greenhouse gas emissions. In April 2022, India-based Swiggy, a food delivery company, joined forces with EVIFY to enable grocery and food delivery through EVs in Surat, Gujarat. 

Industry leaders are likely to emphasize upstream transportation (farm-to-retail) and foster last-mile transportation—pushing for deliveries and offsetting personal trips. Centralized grocery delivery services and fulfillment centers have brought a paradigm shift in minimizing GHG emissions and food loss. State-of-the-art technologies, including predictive analytics, can provide the silver bullet to prevent pilferage and streamline sourcing. Besides, boosting access to affordable and high-quality fresh food, along with the focus on diversity, integrity and transparency, will remain instrumental for a circular economy. 

Learn more about the practices & strategies being implemented by industry participants from the Online Grocery Industry ESG Thematic Report, 2023, published by Astra ESG Solutions

Kroger and BigBasket Invest in Climate Strategy for a Sustainable Future

The online retail boom and an emphasis on speed and user experience—instant delivery—have disrupted e-commerce business models. Brands with sustainability strategies appeared resilient during the COVID-19 outbreak, banking on online shopping to conserve raw materials and minimize GHG emissions. Kroger is poised to establish a new Scope 3 goal for supply chain emissions reduction in line with its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitment. The American retail giant has set 2030 sustainable packaging goals, such as using 100% recyclable, reusable and/or compostable packaging. 

Amidst emerging climate risks and opportunities, Kroger inferred using infrared refrigerant leak-detection technology in 2,000 stores. Meanwhile, in 2021, Bigbasket, a TATA Enterprise-owned online grocery retailer, teamed up with New Leaf Dynamic to install a biomass-powered chiller that can save 186 tons of CO2 annually. The Indian giant cited in its Green Report 2022 that it produced 5,457,000 kWh of solar power (reducing 1,670 tons of GHG emissions) in 2022 and 5,458 electric delivery vehicles helped minimize 7012 tons of CO2 emissions during the period. 

Amazon Fresh Navigates Changing Social Landscape 

Amidst rampant layoffs and the prevalence of workplace injuries, grocery warehouses and fulfillment centers have prioritized the social pillar. In January 2023, Amazon announced over 18,000 job cuts, denting workers across industry verticals, including grocery stores. People employed as supply chain managers, program managers, software engineers and store designers bore the brunt in online grocery delivery and fresh stores businesses. That said, the American behemoth inferred in May 2023 that it had poured CDN 25 billion since 2010 in its Canadian operations, including job creation and establishment of data centers and fulfillment centers. In September 2021, the U.S. giant committed USD 1.2 billion to offer 300,000 employees education and skills training programs till 2025. 

Incumbent players have upped investments to make the workplace safer and foster a healthy environment. Amazon has a team of health coordinators, physiotherapists and advisors. The occupational doctors perform medical checks and report trends in major risk areas. 

The U.S. e-commerce company has augmented diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts to underscore its sustainability quotient. In 2021, it committed to a 30% rise year over year in hiring U.S. black employees in level 4 through level 7 from the preceding year’s hiring. The multinational company warrants 100% of employees to take inclusion training. 

Is your business one of participants to the Online Grocery Industry? Contact us for focused consultation around ESG Investing, and help you build sustainable business practices

Governance Key for Relentless Sustainable Goals of Rakuten and Walmart

Sound corporate behavior is second to none for an agile business process and an inclusive global system that complements ethical business practices. Rakuten creates a list of ESG themes with the assistance of external experts and refers to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Materiality Map.

The Japanese company has appointed Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to undergird compliance management. It has banked on a risk-based approach to define high-risk issues and implement measures, such as prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing; prohibition of bribery and corruption; and adherence to competition, antitrust and other related laws. 

Rakuten has propelled board diversity—outside directors account for 58.3% of the BoD, while 25% are foreign directors. Meanwhile, Walmart expects Board members to disclose their race/ethnicity and gender annually. Its board had 27% women and 18% directors who are racially/ethnically diverse (as of April 2023). 

Millennials and Gen Z want the e-commerce sector to foster social contributions, operate in a responsible supply chain and bolster transparency. ESG reporting could be pronounced, prompting online incumbents to further their investments in sustainability. Grand View Research anticipates the global online grocery market size to depict upward growth through 2030. Investments in the circular economy can create momentum and be a differentiating factor in an ever-growing competition in the online grocery business. 

About Astra – ESG Solutions by Grand View Research

Astra is the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) arm of Grand View Research Inc. - a global market research publishing & management consulting firm.

Astra offers comprehensive ESG thematic assessment & scores across diverse impact & socially responsible investment topics, including both public and private companies along with intuitive dashboards. Our ESG solutions are powered by robust fundamental & alternative information. Astra specializes in consulting services that equip corporates and the investment community with the in-depth ESG research and actionable insight they need to support their bottom lines and their values. We have supported our clients across diverse ESG consulting projects & advisory services, including climate strategies & assessment, ESG benchmarking, stakeholder engagement programs, active ownership, developing ESG investment strategies, ESG data services, build corporate sustainability reports. Astra team includes a pool of industry experts and ESG enthusiasts who possess extensive end-end ESG research and consulting experience at a global level.

For more ESG Thematic reports, please visit Astra ESG Solutions, powered by Grand View Research

The Future of Solar Inverter Industry: ESG Trends

The global push for green initiatives and the energy crisis fueled by the Russia-Ukraine war have spurred the solar inverter industry growth. Implementation of ESG strategy has become pronounced to help companies update and assess their goals. Investors prioritize ESG criteria to screen possible investments and it helps companies build trust with stakeholders and foster a sustainability portfolio. Key players have exhibited increased traction for renewable energy technologies and net zero products to provide low-carbon power generation solutions at a reduced cost.

Solar cell manufacturing is resource intensive and warrants a significant amount of industrial material and water. Besides, the manufacturing process may involve unsustainable mining practices and toxic waste. The issue of labor practices has also garnered headlines. The 2021 International Labor Organization (ILO) report suggests that 50 million people are in modern slavery every day. Moreover, the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report claimed the world’s richest 1 percent—those with over USD 1 million— own 45.8 percent of the world’s wealth. Stakeholders demand ESG discipline from companies, their value chain, regulators, investors and consumers. 

Key Players:

• ABB

• SMA Solar Technology AG

• SunPower

• Delta Electronics Inc.

• Siemens Energy

• OMRON Corporation

• Eaton

• Emerson Electric Co.

Environmental Perspective

Enterprises and organizations with sustainable policies have exhibited increased inclination for the environmental aspect. The World Economic Forum ranked environmental risks as the five most critical long-term threats in its Global Risks Report 2022. Some factors, such as extreme weather, biodiversity loss and climate action failure, have made solar inverters promising investments for stakeholders with a focus on ESG portfolios. The unprecedented growth of digitization and the shift from fossil fuels to renewables have encouraged leading players to boost the environment. For instance, Eaton uses power management technologies and services to enhance the quality of life and the environment. The company aims to reduce GHG emissions by 50% from its operations by 2030 from 2018 levels. The multinational power management company asserts its 94% of manufacturing waste in 2021 was diverted away from landfills through recycling, reuse, waste-to-energy or composting. The company alluded to an infusion of over USD 3 billion in sustainability R&D over the next ten years in its 2030 Sustainability Goals. 

Forward-looking players are leveraging their research and development activities and renewable energy to provide reliable, safe and efficient solutions to expedite growth in the energy transition. To illustrate, Delta Electronics is committed to using 100% renewable electricity and attaining carbon neutrality in the global supply chain by 2030. Meanwhile, in 2021, OMRON announced pouring 257 million yen (roughly USD 1.8 million) to minimize the environmental influence of its business activities. The company, having set the OMRON Carbon Zero project, contemplates minimizing emissions by over 30% by 2050. Besides, in March 2021, ABB announced it achieved the 5GW milestone of providing solar plant automation solutions in India. Stakeholders are likely to help customers avoid emissions through the modernization of grids, a smarter built environment and sustainable transport. 

Is your business one of participants to the Global Solar Inverter Industry? Contact us for focused consultation around ESG Investing, and help you build sustainable business practices.

Social Perspective

ESG standards have become paramount for viable working conditions, employee and stakeholder wellness and equal opportunities. Eaton has set up the Compensation and Organization Committee to oversee and review matters pertaining to social aspects, such as training and development, employee engagement, pay equity, inclusion and diversity and culture. Furthermore, Siemens aims for a 30% female share in top management by 2025. It vies for double digital learning hours by 2025 and a 30% enhancement in its globally aggregated LTIFR by 2025. The company poured €318 million (approximately USD 327 million) into employee education and training in 2021.

Meanwhile, Delta joined forces with the Taiwan Architecture & Building Center in Well architecture course in 2021 to offer innovative courses. The company adopted the “Influencing 50, Embracing 50” slogan to boost teamwork and face future challenges in its 50th anniversary in 2021. Prominently, Delta Electronics was in the pole position in overall social performance with almost 80% score. Stakeholders are also poised to emphasize fun games, contests and music to bolster the identity and connection among global employees, products and the brand. Leading players are slated to prioritize social pillar in the ensuing period to tap into the global landscape and bolster their brand position.

Governance Perspective

The need to achieve sustainability goals through robust corporate governance, underpinning social progress and balancing stakeholders' interests has become instrumental to staying ahead of the curve. The demand for, including but not limited to, transparency, board diversity and disclosure has furthered encouraged stakeholders to focus on the governance portfolio. According to Eaton TCFD disclosure, its board comprises 12 members—one-third are U.S. minorities and another one-third are women. The company’s governance committee is tasked to prioritize matters regarding the governance and environmental pillars of ESG. While Eaton has exhibited a sound governance system, Siemens is at the helm with over 90% score. The Supervisory Board at Siemens set a bullish target stating that at least 25% of the managing board position would be held by women until June 30th 2022. The company also augmented the external sustainability audits. According to its Sustainability Report 2021, Siemens conducted 394 sustainability audits in 2021, up from 269 audits in the preceding fiscal year. 

Emerson has upped its focus on corporate governance to foster diversity, equity, inclusion and performance-based ESG goals. To put this into perspective, 45% of Directors are persons of color or women, while 60% of the Office of the Chief Executive is diverse. The company has exhibited an increased focus on anti-corruption controls and other compliance factors, including conflict of interest, ethics allegations and data privacy. Emerson asserted in its ESG report that around 61,000 employees undertook anti-corruption training over the past three years. It alluded to its engagement with a third party to review its Ethics and Compliance program, which is in line with the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) framework and the U.S. Department of Justice. 

An unprecedented surge in the demand for renewable energy, along with the rising footfall of solar power PV installation, has augured growth. The global solar inverter market size was pegged at USD 9.31 billion in 2021 and will observe a 6.2% CAGR from 2022 to 2030. Leading players are expected to expand their penetration across the Asia Pacific as China is poised to provide promising opportunities with a focus on minimizing solar power costs and bolstering incentives. Well-established companies are expected to prioritize organic and inorganic growth strategies. To illustrate, in May 2022, Eaton announced the acquisition of a 50% stake in Jiangsu Huineng Electric Co., Ltd.’s circuit breaker portfolio. Meanwhile, in February 2022, Siemens and Desert Technologies collaborated to roll out and infuse funds into solar and smart infrastructure in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The project could have the aggregate capacity of over 1 GW and will offer reliable, clean and affordable energy in under-served areas.

About Astra – ESG Solutions by Grand View Research

Astra is the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) arm of Grand View Research Inc. - a global market research publishing & management consulting firm.

Astra offers comprehensive ESG thematic assessment & scores across diverse impact & socially responsible investment topics, including both public and private companies along with intuitive dashboards. Our ESG solutions are powered by robust fundamental & alternative information. Astra specializes in consulting services that equip corporates and the investment community with the in-depth ESG research and actionable insight they need to support their bottom lines and their values. We have supported our clients across diverse ESG consulting projects & advisory services, including climate strategies & assessment, ESG benchmarking, stakeholder engagement programs, active ownership, developing ESG investment strategies, ESG data services, build corporate sustainability reports. Astra team includes a pool of industry experts and ESG enthusiasts who possess extensive end-end ESG research and consulting experience at a global level.

For more ESG Thematic reports, please visit Astra ESG Solutions, powered by Grand View Research