As one of the most prominent names in chocolate, The Hershey Company has made significant efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and ramp up sustainability initiatives. To maintain transparency and accountability, the company regularly updates its progress against its priority goals by providing public reports on its sustainability initiatives.
At the moment, much of Hershey’s endeavors lie in the responsible sourcing of cocoa, its most important ingredient. A look into the company’s focus areas shows notable progress against its other environmental year-on-year targets. We delve into Hershey’s sustainability progress below.
Cocoa
Hershey’s main focus lies in the responsible sourcing of cocoa, its most important ingredient and top priority. Through its Cocoa For Good strategy, the company is investing $500 million to improve income resiliency, protect the environment, eliminate child labor and improve child well-being.
As of 2022, Hershey has accomplished its 2020 target of achieving 100% independently verified cocoa.
By 2025, the company aims to achieve sourcing visibility of cocoa volume in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Currently, it has achieved 77% of this goal. 64% of farmers in these areas are polygon mapped by suppliers to improve traceability and monitor deforestation, and 72% are monitored to prevent child labor.
Responsible sourcing is another critical area for Hershey. Currently, 84% of the priority ingredients and materials are responsibly and sustainably sourced, with a goal to reach 100% by 2025.
Environment
Hershey’s supply chain and manufacturing facilities are great producers of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to the introduction of its 2030 goals in 2021. Today, the company remains on track to achieve its 2030 target goals.
As of December 31, 2022, Hershey has successfully reduced their Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 41% compared to their 2018 baseline. This is a significant achievement for the company’s environmental goals, and they have set a target of 50% reduction by 2030.
However, reducing Scope 3 emissions has proven challenging for the company. By 2030, the company is aiming to achieve a 25% absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions against a 2018 baseline. It has only accomplished 10% of this goal.
In terms of packaging, the company is currently focused on two key objectives. Firstly, they are working to create 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable plastic packaging. Secondly, they aim to eliminate 25 million pounds of packaging by the year 2030.
Both goals are making good progress, with the former having reached 17% of the target and the latter having already eliminated 13.7 million pounds of packaging.
Other goals: People, youth and community
Hershey has also set a number of priority goals spanning its employees, communities and youth groups. Much of this centers around ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion across its communities, with a particular spotlight on increasing representation across its employees and reducing hazard for job functions.
Hershey is additionally giving large donations to global communities and children. Over $150 million was donated to support children and communities through education, nutrition, community economic development and more.
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