Waste is a two-fold problem in the consumer goods industry, some products are disposed of for multiple reasons while on the other side, the waste is generated through packaging. There has been an increasing amount of single-use plastic and waste produced by FMCG companies.
Companies need to be more mindful of the waste generated throughout their value chain. Companies like Procter & Gamble and Dabur India recently announced that they have achieved 'plastic waste neutrality’ by recycling a big chunk of their post-consumer plastic packaging waste. Companies have been under pressure to manage waste to be environmentally sustainable and increase consumer awareness. Being responsible for the environment helps companies attract new customers as consumers prefer to do business with companies that share their values.
Nestle is a manufacturer and marketer of food products and beverages. The company has a market capitalization of $298,409 million as of September 2022 and generated 1,568 thousand tonnes of waste in 2021. Around 99% of the total waste generated by the company was non-hazardous.
Mondelez International Inc (Mondelez) manufactures and markets food products and beverages with a market capitalization of $75,148 million as of September 2022. The waste generated by Mondelez in 2021 was 275 thousand tonnes which decreased by 3% over 2020. The company generated 174 thousand tonnes of food waste in 2021 which decreased by 5% over 2020. Mondelez has exceeded its 2025 goal by reducing food waste in distribution by 65% in 2021 compared to its 2018 baseline (goal of 50% reduction).
General Mills Inc (General Mills) manufactures and markets consumer-based food products and has a market capitalization of $45,471 million as of September 2022. The waste generated by General Mills in 2021 was 337 thousand tonnes, an increase of 2.4% from 2020. The company generated 1.71 thousand tonnes of food waste in 2021, a decrease of 23.7% over 2020. The company aims to achieve zero waste to landfill at all owned production facilities by 2025 and reduce food waste in operations by 50% by 2030 vs the 2020 baseline.
Hershey manufactures and distributes chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and has a market capitalization of $45,193 million as of September 2022. The company generated 61 thousand tonnes of waste in 2021. Hershey disposed of 2.7 thousand tonnes of waste to landfills in 2021 and recycled 84.5% of the total non-hazardous waste generated.
Danone SA (Danone) is a manufacturer and producer of dairy and nutritional products with a market capitalization of $32,166 million as of September 2022. The total waste generated by Danone in 2021 was 400 thousand tonnes, a decrease of 14% over 2020. Danone recycled or reused 348 thousand of tonnes of waste during the same year. The food company is working on achieving zero waste to landfill.
The list of top companies is based on market capitalization and the availability of waste generation data.
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