General Mills and Kellogg refute Oxfam climate change attack

By Kacey Culliney

- Last updated on GMT

Oxfam climate change report: General Mills says it has been 'mischaracterized' and Kellogg defends its environmental commitments
Oxfam climate change report: General Mills says it has been 'mischaracterized' and Kellogg defends its environmental commitments

Related tags General mills Greenhouse gas

General Mills and Kellogg have dismissed Oxfam’s claim that they are the ‘worst offenders’ on global greenhouse gas emissions and not doing enough to tackle climate change.

Global NGO Oxfam released its Standing on the Sidelines​ report last week that called out the ‘Big 10’ food companies on “significant”​ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Oxfam said Associated British Foods (ABF), Coca-Cola, Danone, General Mills, Kellogg, Mars, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever were collectively emitting more greenhouse gases than Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway combined.

Oxfam acknowledged that the 10 companies had targets on reducing emissions but described them as lax and not based on science, calling on them to set clearer, more aggressive targets.

“Two companies in particular, Kellogg and General Mills, are clear laggards among the big 10. Both companies are highly vulnerable to climate impacts but also well positioned to lead the industry towards a more sustainable future,”​ the report read.

General Mills and Kellogg point to Carbon Disclosure Project

General Mills refuted the content of Oxfam’s report. Kris Patton, global communications manager for General Mills, told BakeryandSnacks.com: “Climate change is a serious issue, we agree. But we strongly disagree with this assessment of our efforts.”

In its report Oxfam suggested General Mills, along with Kellogg, failed to measure annual carbon emissions. There were “unaddressed emissions”​ from all 10 companies, it said, caused by agricultural production such as nitrous oxide released from fertilizers and methane released from livestock.

Jerry Lynch, chief sustainability officer at General Mills, acknowledged in a corporate blog post​ that 41% of GHG emissions associated with its products came from agriculture, 14% from packaging production, 7% from other ingredient production and 8% from its direct operations. “…Which is why we’re also working to measure and reduce GHG emissions outside our direct operations."

'We’re also working to measure and reduce GHG emissions outside our direct operations,' ​says General Mills' chief sustainability officer, Jerry Lynch

Lynch said General Mills was working with the Michigan Milk Producers Association, for example, to work on measuring the carbon footprint of milk production and processing. It was also involved in the ‘Field To Market’ alliance, he said, that looked to address emissions from US row crops.

Patton also pointed out the company’s participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since 2000. As part of that General Mills regularly reported its GHG emissions from direct operations.

Kellogg had also been part of the Carbon Disclosure Project since 2007, Kris Charles, vice president of communications at Kellogg, told us. This, she said, covered emissions from its manufacturing operations; upstream, owned and downstream; transportation and distribution; business travel and sales and office locations.

“We are working on multiple fronts to further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and waste, as well as the energy and water we use,”​ she said.

The Carbon Disclosure Project is a not-for-profit organization providing a global system that enables companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share environmental information. For companies, the organization is focused on tackling climate change, addressing exposure to deforestation risks, driving more sustainable water use and mitigating environmental risks in supply chain.

Oxfam also raised concerns over the sustainability of palm oil used by Kellogg and General Mills
Oxfam also raised concerns over the sustainability of palm oil used by Kellogg and General Mills

Palm oil tie-ups

In addition to GHG concerns Oxfam suggested that General Mills and Kellogg needed to take a closer look at their palm oil supply chain.

“Oxfam’s investigation has found evidence and threats that companies supplying palm oil to suppliers of Kellogg and General Mills are recklessly clearing forests and burning peatlands,”​ it wrote.

But both Kellogg and General Mills pointed to their memberships of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) that indicated dedication to sustainable sourcing.

General Mills has committed to sourcing 100% sustainable palm oil by 2015, Lynch said, and the company was on track to meet that goal. “We’re sourcing more than 50% of our palm oil sustainably today, and by the end of this calendar year we expect that number to be 75%,”​ he wrote in the blog post.

Kellogg, Charles said, had a deforestation commitment plan for palm, soy and timber-based packaging.

Oxfam had acknowledged these efforts in its report. “To their credit, both General Mills and Kellogg have recently made strong new commitments and policies for zero deforestation for their palm oil sourcing, going beyond the RSPO’s minimum GHG requirements.”

Kellogg revamped its palm oil sourcing policy mid-February​, this year, and General Mills in late March​.

Kellogg said it valued engagement with NGOs like Oxfam on environmental issues
Kellogg said it valued engagement with NGOs like Oxfam on environmental issues

More to be done… conversation to continue 

General Mills acknowledged there was “more to be done, of course”​ but said its track record was clear. Patton said that overall, Oxfam’s report completely mischaracterized General Mills’ efforts to tackle climate change.

Kellogg also said it had been long committed to doing what’s right for the environment and society, but Charles added: “We value continued engagement and discussion with Oxfam, and other external stakeholders, on the important issues of environmental and social responsibility, including climate change.”

Oxfam said both companies, and the rest of the food and beverage world, needed to better engage vocally about climate change issues, as it was their responsibility.

Patton said General Mills was doing so with its work on the steering committee of The Consumer Goods Forum and in its membership of the Tropical Forest Alliance which was actively engaged with governments in Africa and Asia on climate change issues. 

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

GET GREEN FASTER: Low-CI Dextrose/Glucose Syrups

GET GREEN FASTER: Low-CI Dextrose/Glucose Syrups

Content provided by Green Plains Inc. | 01-Mar-2024 | Data Sheet

Elevate your products with Green Plains’ premium, low carbon-intensity corn syrups. Drop-in replacements with an up to 40% lower carbon footprint than...

Efficacy of OLESSENCE™ B Liquid Natural Flavouring

Efficacy of OLESSENCE™ B Liquid Natural Flavouring

Content provided by Kemin Food Technologies | 26-Feb-2024 | Case Study

The main challenge with baked goods today is the prevention of oxidative rancidity with natural alternatives while maintaining the quality, freshness,...

Bun quality issues? Let us help

Bun quality issues? Let us help

Content provided by Corbion | 03-Jan-2024 | Insight Guide

Most bakeries occasionally struggle with bun quality, from low product volume to crust issues and grain/cell problems. The good news is that most bun quality...

Related suppliers

2 comments

hey Big Food: Get into the spirit of collaboration

Posted by wayne roberts,

Oxfam might look like it's just taking a whack at evil corporations, but it's really extending an olive branch, albeit a branch with some sharp thorns on it.
This is a chance for big companies to have consultants for free--representatives of the most demanding and ethically concerned customers--speaking to them regularly about their concerns.
Look on it as you see labor relations. You fight with unions from time to time, but for the most part, you're working together in creative tension to address real problems -- which is often stressful, but always better than not knowing what's bothering key stakeholders.
That's the concept of multi-stakeholder partnership advanced in my book, Food for City Building, and I'm glad to see it making headway in this Oxfam relationship.

Report abuse

Yes, but...

Posted by Joanmarie Weiss,

How many people do these ten companies feed worldwide? And how many people do the three countries feed worldwide? It does take energy to make and process foods for people and animals around the world.

Report abuse

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars