HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Hershey Co. has issued its latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, “Shared Goodness,” detailing its progress in 2015 on a variety of issues. Hershey continued to make progress through a range of efforts supporting the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing, ingredient transparency, simple ingredients and environmental sustainability.
“No trend impacts our industry more than consumers’ changing relationship with food, and this year we addressed consumer expectations better than ever before, starting with our commitment to simpler, more sustainable ingredients and greater transparency,” said John P. Bilbrey, chairman, president and CEO of Hershey.
Food safety has long been a top priority for Hershey, and that focus continued in 2015.
Hershey started to transition iconic products to simple, familiar ingredients and extended its product transparency. The company spearheaded the development of the new SmartLabel QR-code transparency program with industry peers, giving consumers easy access to more information about the foods they eat. Hershey also became the first U.S. company to adopt SmartLabel, a QR code, web-based platform that allows consumers to access information about products that is not limited by the size and space of packaging.
In 2015, Hershey continued to make strides in its commitment to responsible sourcing. It sourced 50% of cocoa used globally from certified, sustainable sources.
Hershey also formally combined its environmental, health and safety departments into a single department in 2015 to create greater efficiency, accountability and collaboration between these functions.
During the year, Hershey also signed the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge and announced ambitious new 2025 environmental goals, from greenhouse gas to water to waste, to replace goals previously set for 2017.
The Hershey Co., based in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery company with more than 80 brands that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside, as well as SoFit.
Click here to view the full CSR report.
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