Dairy Processing - September 2021 - 70

ASSOCIATION INSIGHTS
The currency of
TRUST
Dairy companies are leading the way in
accountability with B Corp certification.
by Michael Dykes | International Dairy Foods Association
A
mid the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of
2020, Axios-Harris surveyed 34,000 Americans to
determine how they view companies on factors
of reputation and trust. Food-related companies were all
over the top 100. In fact, four of the top 10 most-trusted
corporations were food retailers; 10 of the top 50 were food
brands or restaurants; and nearly one-third of the list was
food-related.
During a challenging year, consumers rewarded companies
that they trust with their business. In fact, consumers trust
companies more than the federal government because
companies are showing a commitment not only to service, but
also to people and society.
As companies better understand the
importance of proving their social
license to operate, many
have sought out Certified
B Corporation status
from B Lab, a thirdparty
auditor that
scores a company's
transparency, social
accountability and
environmental
performance.
Michael Dykes, chief
executive officer and
president, International Dairy
Foods Association.
70 SEP 2021 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Certified B Corporations are companies that demonstrate
high standards of social and environmental performance,
according to B Lab. More than 4,000 Certified B Corps exist
in the world, including more than 250 food and beverage
companies in the United States. Chief among those are
dairy foods companies like Danone North America, Cabot,
Tillamook, Stonyfield Organic, Ben & Jerry's, Jeni's Splendid
Ice Cream, MVP Dairy, McCarty Family Farms, Horizon and
more. Several other members of the International Dairy Foods
Association (IDFA) are engaged in B Corp audits right now.
That's right-dairy is not only leading the charge to
become one of the first categories in food and beverage to
achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, dairy is also
leading on B Corp status, with many companies opening their
doors to audits from everything from treatment of workers
to animal welfare, from commitment to community to
environmental footprint.
Some may be asking-Why do this? Why participate
in a rigorous assessment to evaluate how my company's
operations and business model impact nearly everything in
the supply chain?
Let's start with the M word-millennials. Health-conscious.
Concerned about the environment. More willing to put their
trust in companies that demonstrate action on social issues,
such as equal pay among women and men or DEI issues.
Consumers 18-34 years old make up nearly 25% of the US
population (and growing) and they are entering their prime
spending years. Millennials are more likely to go out of their
way to do business with companies that reflect their values.
With that understanding, B Corp status is as much about
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Dairy Processing - September 2021

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