UK – Danone UK & Ireland is the latest business to enter the elite group of certified B Corp businesses following the accreditation of its Specialised Nutrition business. 

With the accreditation, Danone claims to be the first combined food and healthcare manufacturer in the UK and Ireland to become a B Corp company as verified by non-profit B Lab. 

President James Mayer said the accreditation of Danone’s Specialised Nutrition business was a key milestone for the business.  

“There has never been a more critical time for greater action from responsible businesses,” he added.  

“And more than ever, people want to buy from, work for, invest in and partner with businesses they trust to make a positive impact.”  

B Corp movement  

B Corp certified businesses are verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance and public transparency – with a proven commitment to balance profit and purpose. 

The certification requires businesses to assess their practices across five impact areas: Governance; workers; environment; community; and customers. 

The assessment of Danone Specialised Nutrition recognised its ‘progressive environmental and social practices’, resulting in a score of 90.2 across all operations, including manufacturing. 

“Being part of the B Corp movement helps to accelerate collective progress to tackle the social and environmental issues we face,” Mayer noted. 

 “As one of the largest B Corps in the UK and Ireland, we will continue to do more to meet the needs of people and the planet.”  

The assessment of Danone Specialised Nutrition recognised its ‘progressive environmental and social practices, resulting in a score of 90.2 across all operations, including manufacturing. 

 In its journey to B Corp certification, Danone achieved a number of firsts in the food and drink industry. 

Danone’s Wexford and Macroom sites were the first baby formula factories to be B Corp certified in the UK & Ireland, while its Liverpool factory is also the first medical nutrition factory to be certified in the region. 

North America Cheese competition 

Meanwhile, Danone North America has partnered with San Francisco-based food summit Future Food-Tech to launch a competition that will look for technologies that improve the texture and melting properties of plant-based cheese.  

The company is growing its plant-based cheese category and identifies texture and melting as some of the main challenges in replicating the properties of traditional dairy. 

Danone NA said its innovation and R&D team is particularly interested in shredded or sliced cheeses such as mozzarella or cheddar rather than artisan cheeses. 

Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE