Australian food manufacturer The Arnott’s Group has released its third annual Sustainability Report, recording significant progress towards its goals in the areas of emissions reduction and monitoring, packaging recyclability and sustainable ingredient procurement.
The report follows the recent installation of 2,100 solar panels across two manufacturing sites and the corporate headquarters as part of the company’s aim to shift to 100 per cent renewable energy at these locations by 2029.
Among the report’s key highlights is Arnott’s collaboration with Microsoft to become Australia’s first firm to install Microsoft’s Sustainability Manager solution.
George Zoghbi, Arnott’s Group CEO, expressed optimism in the company’s progress despite conflicting external pressures such as growing prices and global supply chain issues.
“This year, many businesses have had to ask themselves the difficult question of how they can resist pressures to de-prioritise sustainability, particularly when the price tag is high or where the return on investment is not immediate,” Zoghbi remarked.
The company further disclosed that Chief Transformation Officer Simon Lowden is in charge of leading the Arnott’s Group’s sustainability mission.
On the night of the report’s release, the firm reported that Lowden spoke about the need to use the company’s position as an iconic food company to collaborate with the industry to chart a course forward.
“Our sustainability ambitions can only be achieved if we can see the full picture of our impact and connect the dots between our past, and our future – between our suppliers, our operations and our customers. All with the goal of progressing toward our ambition for a sustainable future,” Lowden explained.
The Sydney-headquartered manufacturer said its sustainability strategy is informed by four goals, including growing and sourcing 100 per cent of its ingredients sustainably by 2035.
The company also aims to achieve net zero emission in its operations by 2040 and across the value chain by 2050.
By 2025, The Arnott’s Group seeks to reduce, reuse, or repurpose ANZ plastic packaging by 10 per cent and meet Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.
Lastly, the company is working on increasing choice, opportunity, and well-being by promoting inclusion and belonging, supporting communities, as well as providing more diverse food options and guidance on nutrition.
The group also launched its first ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan, an established framework for improving cultural understanding within the organisation and promoting reconciliation through meaningful collaborations with First Nations enterprises and peoples.
