In May 2017, the employees of Nestlé Trinidad and Tobago came together at a special Open House for the internal launch of the “Nestlé Purpose.” It’s part of a global initiative that will guide Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, across the 189 countries in which it operates.
Grounded in Nestlé’s 150-year tradition of social responsibility, The Nestlé Purpose can be summed up in one simple sentence: “Enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.”
For Nestlé, this is not a communications exercise. “The Nestlé Purpose is the reason we exist,” says Corporate Communications Manager, Denise d’Abadie, “it is what motivates us and gives meaning to what we do – it articulates our desired impact on the world.”
“We believe a clear purpose defines why the world is a better place with Nestlé. It explains how we make life better for those who enjoy our products and services, and better also for all those with whom we interact — our partners, our communities, our environment,” she says.
A Compass for Employees: The new Nestlé Purpose will be the compass for the company’s 328,000 employees around the world, providing them with direction and clarity. It will drive and guide Nestlé at three levels:
- As Nestlé inspires individuals and families to live healthier and happier lives, through its products, educational programmes and more.
- As Nestlé helps improve livelihoods and develop thriving communities through education programmes, employment opportunities and commitments to human rights.
- As Nestlé strives to ensure the wellbeing of the planet by stewarding resources for future generations.
“At each of these levels — how we make an impact on individuals and families, the community and the environment — Nestlé has specific and measurable commitments,” says Mrs. d’Abadie.
Individuals and Families: At the individual and family level, Nestlé will fulfill its purpose by further improving its products to offer tastier and healthier choices. When you consider that Nestlé delivers more than 1 billion servings of foods and beverages every day worldwide, it is clear that the company is uniquely positioned to drive optimal health and improved wellness.
In fact, Nestlé was the first company in the world to make a formal pledge to reduce sugar, salt and trans-fat in all of its products. Internationally, in just ten years, Nestlé has reduced the sugar content of its products by more than 30%, and the company continues to reduce the sodium content of its products to help consumers achieve a sodium intake of 2g per day, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Here in Trinidad and Tobago this focus on product improvement has seen the introduction of innovations like ORCHARD® Calorie Conscious, developed to help consumers seeking to live a healthier lifestyle through weight management, as well as those who are diabetic and need to control their sugar intake. Meanwhile, breakfast cereals sold in Trinidad and Tobago have been improved to include more whole grain than any other ingredient, with total sugars reduced to 9g or less per serving, and salt to 135mg or less per serving.”
“Here at Nestlé, we are driven by a simple purpose: enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.”
The Community: In terms of the community, the Nestlé Purpose will be expressed at several levels, for instance through the company’s commitments to promote decent employment and diversity, and via special community initiatives such as Nestlé’s recent partnership with the Football Factory, a football academy which helps at-risk children learn life skills. Nestlé will also continue its effort to build stronger communities through its Dairy Development Programme which helps farmers improve productivity, save money and create sustainable operations.
The Environment: ISO14001-certified in safety and environmental systems, with regular independent third party audits to maintain that certification, Nestlé is already the Caribbean leader in recycling, waste reduction, water stewardship and waste-water management (Nestlé’s internal waste-water treatment plant was the first of its kind in the Caribbean). In line with the Nestlé Purpose, the company will maintain challenging targets in these areas as it demonstrates its care for these resources and its respect for the future.
Nestlé’s brands have already embraced the Nestlé purpose through programmes that enhance the quality of life of individuals, families and communities. The MILO Jumpstart Programme, for example, promotes healthy living by encouraging physical activity, while the MAGGI Power of a Meal programme teaches families the basics of nutrition on a tight budget and provides them with information and seedlings so that they can grow their own food.
“Aligning ourselves and our operations to the Nestlé Purpose means we can offer many good arguments to convince consumers that when they choose one of our brands they don’t just enjoy a tastier and healthier product, they also help make the world a little better,” says Mrs. d’Abadie, “Nestlé is a large company and because we are large we can make a big positive impact. When we string all our projects, initiatives and activities together it becomes clear what a tremendous difference we can really make.”
“Our values are rooted in Respect: respect for ourselves, respect for others, respect for diversity, and respect for the future.”