WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2014 – Cereal giant Kellogg is joining General Mills in promising industry-leading steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its agricultural supply chains.
Among other things, the maker of Corn Flakes and Keebler Cookies said it will for the first time establish targets to reduce “Scope 3” greenhouse gas emissions, where most of the company’s value chain climate pollution occurs, largely from agricultural production. Scope 1 and 2 cover direct emission sources, such as fuel used in company vehicles, while Scope 3 covers all indirect emissions due to an organization’s activities, including emissions from both suppliers and customers.
Kellogg also pledged to join Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) by Sept. 30. BICEP is a coalition committed to working with policy makers to pass meaningful energy and climate legislation. BICEP was started in 2008 with a core group of five companies, including Starbucks, Nike, and Timberland and now includes more than 30 businesses.
Oxfam International said the pledges were in response to the advocacy group’s Behind the Brands campaign and petitions from 238,000 supporters of the program, which assesses the agricultural sourcing policies of the world’s 10 largest food and beverage companies. Two weeks ago, when General Mills announced similar policies, Oxfam said its next target was Kellogg.
“We welcome Kellogg’s efforts to become an industry leader in the fight against climate change and the damage it is causing to people everywhere,” said Monique van Zijl, the campaign manager for the Behind the Brands. “Kellogg’s new commitments add momentum to calls on governments and the wider food and agriculture industry to recognize that climate change is real, it’s happening now, and we need to tackle it.”
Oxfam launched its Behind the Brands campaign last year to let consumers know how the biggest food companies deal with their supply chains on issues such as sustainable use of land and water, transparency, climate, and rights of women and farmers, especially in the world's poorer countries. In a recent assessment of the Big 10, Kellogg finished in eight place and General Mills came in last. The other companies whose polices were reviewed are Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever, Mondelez, Coca-Cola, Mars, Danone and Associated British Foods.
Kellogg, in a statement on its climate policy, said the company is “working on multiple fronts to further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and waste, as well as the energy and water we use.”
“As we do so, we value continued engagement and discussion with non-governmental organizations and other external stakeholders on the important issues of environmental and social responsibility.”
Kellogg also promised to:
-Establish a climate change adaptation policy that incorporates the needs of smallholders in its supply chain by 2015.
-Continue supporting the Consumer Goods Forum pledge to help achieve zero net deforestation for soy, palm oil and timber supply chains by 2020 and encourage industry associations and peers to join the commitment.
-Review, update and report on company policies, commitments and statements to align with climate mitigation targets, plans and adaptation initiatives.
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