Sustainability at The Hershey Company
Summary
TLDRThe Hershey Company, founded over 125 years ago, emphasizes sustainability and community investment as integral to its success. Originating from Milton Hershey's vision, the company supports cocoa farmers, children's education, and gender equality in West Africa. It also champions social-emotional development through programs like 'Cocoa for Good' and 'Hart Norman Project', aiming to foster inclusive communities and combat youth loneliness. The Milton Hershey School exemplifies the company's commitment to children's welfare, providing education and support to over 2,000 kids annually from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Takeaways
- 🏭 The Hershey Company has been in business for over 125 years, with a foundational principle of 'doing well while doing good'.
- 🌱 Sustainability is integral to the company's operations, recognizing its role as a corporate citizen and the importance of community and environmental impact.
- 💼 Milton Hershey's legacy is deeply rooted in the company's DNA, with a focus on community investment and employee well-being, which is believed to benefit the business.
- 🌍 'Cocoa for Good' is Hershey's strategy for sustainable cocoa, aiming for a world where cocoa farmers and their families lead healthy and prosperous lives.
- 🍼 The company supports nutrition programs like 'Energized Learning' in West Africa, providing peanut-based nutrition to school children to improve their focus and life prospects.
- 👥 Hershey is committed to SDG 5, focusing on gender equality, and works with partners to ensure thriving cocoa communities.
- 🤝 The 'Shared Goodness Promise' is Hershey's four-pronged approach to social responsibility, including business's role in society, environmental preservation, community investment, and supporting children's success.
- 👶 The 'Hart Norman Project' is Hershey's latest social impact program, aimed at fostering meaningful connections and inclusive communities among young people.
- 🏫 Milton Hershey School, founded by the company's namesake, provides education and support to over 2,000 children from disadvantaged backgrounds annually.
- 🍫 Hershey's chocolate is positioned as an affordable, accessible product that creates connections and spreads joy, a vision held since its creation.
- 🔗 The company emphasizes the interconnectedness of its success with the well-being of the school, community, and the planet, and the importance of perseverance.
Q & A
How long has the Hershey company been in business?
-The Hershey company has been in business for over a hundred and 25 years.
What principle has the Hershey company operated under since its founding?
-The Hershey company has operated under the principle of 'doing well while doing good,' emphasizing sustainability.
What does the Hershey company consider as part of its sustainability commitment?
-The company's sustainability commitment includes being a part of the world around them, considering their communities, the planet, and the people on this earth.
What is the connection between operating sustainably and business results according to the Hershey company?
-The Hershey company believes that operating in a sustainable way not only does the right thing but also delivers better business results and an engaged employee workforce.
Who was Milton Hershey and what was his vision for the company?
-Milton Hershey was the founder of the Hershey company, and his vision was to build a company that was heavily invested in the community and the well-being of his employees.
What is the 'Cocoa for Good' strategy and what does it aim to achieve?
-'Cocoa for Good' is a strategy for sustainable cocoa at Hershey, with a vision of a world where cocoa farmers and their families can lead healthy and prosperous lives, and where communities and ecosystems thrive for generations to come.
What is the 'Energized for Learning' program and how does it benefit children in West Africa?
-The 'Energized for Learning' program is a nutrition initiative for kids in West Africa that delivers TV (a peanut-based nutritionist) to school children daily, produced locally by a partner project, which is supported by the Hershey company.
What is the significance of SDG 5 for the Hershey company and its operations in West Africa?
-SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality, is significant for the Hershey company as they strive to achieve gender equality within the communities they work in and collaborate with various partners to support cocoa communities.
What is the 'Shared Goodness Promise' and its four focus areas?
-The 'Shared Goodness Promise' is Hershey's commitment to sustainability, focusing on four areas: the role of their business in society, preserving the planet, investing in the places where their employees live and work, and continuing Milton Hershey's legacy of helping children succeed.
What is the 'Hartman Project' and its purpose?
-The 'Hartman Project' is Hershey's newest social impact program aimed at helping kids and teens build meaningful connections with one another and create more inclusive, empathetic communities, addressing issues of loneliness and social isolation.
How does the Hershey company carry forward Milton Hershey's legacy through the Milton Hershey School?
-The Milton Hershey School, founded by the company's founder, serves over 2,000 kids a year from disadvantaged homes, providing them with education and support to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
What is the significance of chocolate in the Hershey company's philosophy and its 125th anniversary?
-Chocolate has always been a symbol of connection between people for the Hershey company, and as they celebrate their 125th anniversary, they reflect on what makes them unique and special, emphasizing the role of chocolate in creating moments of goodness in people's lives.
How does the Hershey company approach partnerships to implement children's programming?
-The Hershey company partners with organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Harvard University, leveraging their expertise in children's programming and using Hershey's platform to take a stand on important issues and make a significant impact.
What is the Hershey company's stance on sustainability challenges and the role of stakeholders?
-The Hershey company acknowledges the increasing challenges in sustainability and the importance of all stakeholders coming together to solve them, emphasizing the need for collective action to move the sustainability agenda forward.
How does the Hershey company view its role in society beyond being a commercial success?
-The Hershey company sees itself as not just a force for commercial success but also as a force for good in society, with a commitment to sustainable practices and a legacy of doing the right thing for people, communities, and the planet.
Outlines
🌱 Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Hershey
The Hershey Company, with over 125 years in business, has been built on the principle of sustainability and 'doing well while doing good.' Founded by Milton Hershey, the company is deeply committed to its community and the environment. Hershey's sustainability efforts are seen as part of the company's DNA, with a focus on investing in employees, communities, and cocoa farming communities. The company's 'Cocoa for Good' strategy aims to improve the lives of cocoa farmers and their families, ensuring healthy and prosperous lives. Hershey also supports nutrition programs, such as 'Energized Learning,' providing peanut-based nutrition to school children in West Africa. The company is dedicated to achieving the UN's SDG 5, focusing on gender equality, and carries forward Milton Hershey's legacy through various programs, including the 'Hart Norman Project,' which helps children succeed. The 'Shared Goodness Promise' outlines four areas of focus: societal role, environmental preservation, community investment, and supporting children's success. The 'Heartwarming Project' is a new social impact program aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation among the digitally connected youth by fostering meaningful connections and inclusive communities.
🎉 Celebrating 125 Years of Hershey and its Commitment to Goodness
As Hershey celebrates its 125th anniversary, the company reflects on its unique and special connection with people, emphasizing the importance of community and the legacy of its founder, Milton Hershey. The company's success is tied to the well-being of the school, community, and the interconnectedness of all stakeholders. Hershey's perseverance is highlighted as a key value, encouraging students to believe in their ability to change and succeed regardless of their beginnings. The company is proud of its iconic brands and delicious products but acknowledges it is not an expert in implementing children's programs, which is why it partners with organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Harvard University. The 'Harbor Main Project' is a partnership that leverages Hershey's platform to advocate for important social issues. Sustainability is a growing concern, and Hershey is committed to increasing its efforts to ensure it continues to do the right thing for the next 125 years. The company is recognized as a leader in sustainability, striving to be a force for good in society, not just a commercial success.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sustainability
💡Corporate Citizen
💡Cocoa for Good
💡SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
💡Energized Learning
💡Shared Goodness Promise
💡Milton Hershey School
💡Social-Emotional Development
💡Digital Connection
💡Stakeholders
💡Harbor Main Project
Highlights
The Hershey Company has been in business for over 125 years, operating under the principle of 'doing well while doing good'.
Sustainability is integral to the company's DNA, with a focus on being a responsible corporate citizen.
Milton Hershey's legacy includes building a town for his employees and investing in their communities.
The company's sustainability efforts are linked to better business results and an engaged workforce.
Cocoa for Good is a strategy aimed at creating a world where cocoa farmers and their families can lead healthy, prosperous lives.
Energized Learning is a nutrition program for West African children, providing daily peanut-based nutrition.
SDG 5 focuses on gender equality, with Hershey striving to achieve gender balance in cocoa communities.
The Hershey Company carries forward Milton Hershey's legacy through its Shared Goodness Promise.
The Heartwarming Project is a social impact program aimed at building meaningful connections among children and teens.
The project addresses the paradox of the most digitally connected generation experiencing high levels of loneliness.
Hershey is hosting a national summit for young people to discuss social isolation and share solutions.
Milton Hershey School serves over 2,000 kids a year from disadvantaged homes, providing education and support.
The school's mission is to help children find their passion and lead a fulfilling and productive life.
Hershey's chocolate was created to be affordable for the masses, fostering a sense of connection between people.
The company emphasizes the importance of perseverance and changing one's story for a successful future.
Hershey partners with organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Harvard University for social impact.
Stakeholders are increasingly seeking sustainable practices, with investors showing a growing interest.
Hershey aims to continue its sustainability efforts for the next 125 years, building on its history of doing good.
The company believes in being a force for good in society, not just for commercial success.
Transcripts
[Music]
the Hershey company has been in business
for over a hundred and 25 years and
going back to our founder Milton Hershey
we've operated under the principle of
doing well while doing good
sustainability is the recognition that
as we do business as a corporate citizen
we are a part of the world around us our
communities our planet the people on
this earth and what we've learned over
time is that when we operate in a
sustainable way it actually not only is
the right thing to do but it also
delivers better business results an
engaged employee workforce so the
Hershey company's commitment
sustainability I always think about is
it's part of the DNA of the company I
mean if you think about Milton Hershey
who started the company in the middle of
Pennsylvania
he built the town and was heavily vested
in investing in community for his
employees making sure they had good
places to live good education for their
kids because he knew that investing is
and employees as people in their
livelihoods would pay benefits back to
his business where that be here in
Hershey Pennsylvania whether that be in
West Africa helping with farmer
livelihoods in the cocoa communities
that we depend upon or in many of our
manufacturing locations all over the
world cocoa for good is a strategy for
sustainable KooKoo at Henchy we have a
vision of a world where cocoa farmers
and their families are able to lead
healthy and prosperous lives also a
world where we have communities and
ecosystems thriving for generations to
come
what can we do to help kids succeed a
good example is a nutrition program for
kids in West Africa that we've created
through energized learning we deliver TV
which is the peanut base nutritionists
not to school children on a daily basis
Vivian's produced locally by a partner
project peanut butter in a manufacturing
facility that was supported by the Heshy
company the idea is if we can feed kids
and give them the nutrition that they
need so that they don't have to worry
about their stomachs they can focus on
doing well in school and really give
them a leg up to do well in life we also
pay a lot of attention to SD g5 which
focuses on gender equality so as we go
about the white
we do in West Africa we are very focused
on achieving these as DG's within the
communities in which we work in and
working together with various partners
to ensure that we can come together and
help cocoa communities to thrive we
carry forward the legacy of Milton
Hershey into what we call the shared
goodness promise we focus in four areas
so one is how our businesses have a role
in society preserving the planet along
with investing in the places where our
employees live and work and continuing
Milton Hershey's legacy of helping
children to succeed through various
programs like the Hart Norman project is
how we carry that legacy forward the
heartwarming project is our newest
social impact program serving children
it really is about helping kids and
teens build meaningful connections with
one another and create more inclusive
empathetic communities despite being the
most digitally connected generation is
also the one that experiences highest
levels of loneliness and social
isolation so what we're doing is
investing in programs that really
provide young people with
social-emotional development and
learning by reaching out to both parents
and teachers and young people themselves
our goal is to help them feel more
connected with one another and to have
the tools that they need to succeed
we're also going to be hosting a
national summit for young people focused
on social isolation where they can truly
elevate their voices on the issue and
share solutions with one another Milton
Hershey our founder of our company
dedicated his fortune to a school for
orphans that he founded here in Hershey
Pennsylvania that has grown into the
Milton Hershey School which today
services well over 2,000 kids a year
from disadvantaged homes come to Hershey
Pennsylvania and they get an education
they get a roof over their heads and the
goal is to help them lead a fulfilling
and productive life it came from the
wisdom of our founder and his wife
Katherine Hershey they couldn't have
children of their own and to put it
succinctly Milton Hershey School is
about helping children the
children to find their passion the one
thing that makes them happy if they can
filter that into a career a family and a
successful life then we've done our job
here since the beginning when Milton
Hershey created chocolate
he was really aiming to make it
affordable for the masses and ever since
then that sense of chocolate being a
connection between people and really
being something that can make more
moments of goodness in people's lives
has really stuck with us and it's our
one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary
as a company and we've really gone back
to what is it that makes us unique and
special as a company and it always goes
back to that sense of connection between
people we always say that the school
does well because the company does well
the community does well and we're all
interconnected we would always talk
about the importance of mr. Hershey
persevering so we always tell our
students the beginning of your story
doesn't mean it's the end of the story
you can always change and persevere and
be successful we are a great food
company we've got iconic brands
wonderful delicious products but we are
not set up to be an implementer of
children's programming so that's why the
harbor main project is partnering with
Boys and Girls Clubs of America we also
partner with Harvard University they
have a great program called making care
in common they're truly the experts in
this space what we do bring to that
partnership is the platform that we have
being able to actually use our voice as
a company to take a stand on these
issues and say that they really do
matter and really trying to have a great
impact as we think about sustainability
I mean the challenges that we're facing
are only increasing and it's important
for all stakeholders to be coming
together to help solve them and it's
really that ability to come together
that's going to enable us to move the
sustainability agenda forward
stakeholders are increasingly looking
for sustainable practices and we're
seeing that on the rise from the
investor community in particular we know
for the past that Hershey has always
tried to do the right thing for the past
hundred twenty-five years when it comes
to people and communities in the planet
and that we need to continue to increase
our sustainability
efforts to make sure that we're doing
the right thing for the next hundred 25
years the really forward-thinking part
about Milton Hershey is he believed in
sustainability and every day I think the
employees of our company are trying to
keep that alive and carry it forward but
we're proud of what we do today and
believe that we're a leader in this
example of how a company is not just a
force for commercial success but can be
a force for good in society
[Music]
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