LENEXA, Kan. — Hostess Brands Inc. has released its 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report, which announced the movements the company is taking involving people, safety and sustainability to build a socially responsible brand.
“We are seeing our initiatives translate into tangible benefits for our people, our customers and our planet,” said Andy Callahan, CEO of Hostess Brands. “While there is still work to do, we have made significant progress and are excited to continue building a snacking powerhouse that is grounded in social responsibility.”
With a focus on workplace health and safety; diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B); environmental; and governance, Hostess Brands stated the following priorities.
Workplace Health and Safety
Lenexa, Ark.-based Hostess Brands has a people-first mindset and plans to continue executing operational best practices. Training has helped in reducing the amount of injury and safety incident rates compared to industry averages as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
The company has instituted several employee and culture-enhancing programs for attracting, developing and retaining a high-quality workforace. Examples include appreciation bonuses for frontline bakery and distribution center employees, roundtable employee discussions encouraging transparent dialogue and an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B) programs.
Hostess Brands’ efforts have been recognized as a part of Forbes 2021 Top 500 Places to Work for Mid-Sized Companies and Forbes 2021 Top Workplace for Military Veterans.
Water, Energy and Packaging Lifecycle Management
With a commitment to saving water, Hostess Brands reduced water usage by 25% over the last two years on a per metric ton of product basis. Its energy decreased by 14%, and its greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 19%, both on a per metric ton of product produced basis.
The company has improved its use of recycled packaging materials over the years and has reviewed its packaging to assess opportunities for further reducing its carbon footprint.
Hostess Brands has plans to complete its Climate Action Plan over the next two years.
Sustainability-First Bakery
Hostess Brands is transforming its new facility in Arkadelphia, Ark., purchased in February, into a bakery with a sustainability-first approach. The company expects the bakery to be operational in the second half of 2023.
Governance
Since 2016, Hostess Brands has assembled a diverse and independent board—67% of board members currently self-identify as being from diverse backgrounds.
The board oversees Hostess Brands' environmental, social and governance initiatives, and the company has put a system in place that links compensation incentives for executive team members to corporate responsibility goals to ensure they are embedded at every level of company decision-making.
Click here to view the full report.
Snack company Hostess Brands LLC produces a variety of treats, including Twinkies, CupCakes, Donettes, Ding Dongs, Zingers and more.
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