B Corp for Danone in Haps and Zoetermeer

Danone’s production sites in Haps and Zoetermeer have received B Corp certification. These facilities manufacture specialised medical and infant nutrition. The certification follows that of the Dutch head office last year and supports Danone’s goal to achieve global B Corp certification by the end of this year.

Focus on progress and energy efficiency

Jean-François Cournil, director of the Haps production site, sees the certification as a sign of continuous improvement. “Being a B Corp is a commitment to ongoing progress and improvement. A good example of how we do this is the recent completion of an energy recovery system. With this new technology, we reduce our energy consumption—by up to 7%—by recovering heat that would otherwise be lost.”

Comprehensive business assessment

B Corp certification goes beyond environmental performance. It also takes into account how a company treats its employees, customers, community and governance. Every three years, companies are reassessed to ensure they meet the increasingly stringent standards. Michiel de Rooij, director of the Zoetermeer site, says: “Our B Corp certification makes me extremely proud. In Zoetermeer, we produce specialised medical nutrition, still in the same city where we started more than 125 years ago.”

Part of the Danone Impact Journey

The certifications are part of Danone’s broader ESG objectives, brought together under the Danone Impact Journey. This approach focuses on creating a positive impact on health, nature and people. Targets and progress are embedded in the company’s articles of association and are reported on annually.