Our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The UN SDGs set a long-term agenda to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. We are committed to playing our role in delivering on these goals, and our sustainability strategy prioritises 11 SDGs where we believe we can make the biggest contribution.

We work to end poverty and reduce inequality by prioritising the employment of historically disadvantaged South Africans ( see Our people); prioritising black economic empowerment through our ownership and procurement structures; creating opportunities for inclusive economic participation in our value chain; investing in socio-economic development ( see Enhanced livelihoods); and working to promote decent work and sustainable economic growth (see SDG 8).

We work to end hunger, improve nutrition, and ensure good health and wellbeing by protecting the health and wellness of our employees ( see Our people and Safety, security, health and environment (SSHE)); providing direct food aid to households and students; investing in community food resilience; investing in in-school food programmes ( see Enhanced livelihoods); tackling food waste and loss ( see Environmental stewardship); producing affordable, nutritious food products; fortifying staple foods and other food products; promoting healthy diets and lifestyles; and supporting consumer education on health and nutrition ( see Health and nutrition).

We promote and work towards sustainable consumption and production, including work to ensure water availability and protect terrestrial ecosystems by participating in industry action on waste and food waste; optimising energy and water use; managing effluent; minimising solid waste, plastic packaging, food waste ( see Environmental stewardship); and promoting environmentally responsible sourcing practices ( see Safety, security, health and environment (SSHE)). We further address water availability concerns by taking action to combat climate change (see SDG 13).

We work to achieve gender equality and empower women by prioritising the employment, development and promotion of women across the business; prioritising the appointment of women to senior management and leadership positions; supporting a women's employee network; providing unique development opportunities for female employees and leaders; and practising equal work for equal pay ( see Our people).

We work to combat climate change by committing to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and implementing initiatives to optimise our energy use and reduce our GHG emissions, including through onsite renewable energy development ( see Environmental stewardship).

We work to ensure decent work, protect terrestrial ecosystems, and promote sustainable economic growth by executing our growth strategy and implementing our sustainability strategy ( see IR and Strategy); ensuring sound and ethical business governance and management ( see IR and Governance); upholding human rights, good labour standards and working conditions ( see Ethical behaviour); practising fair remuneration ( see Our people); reducing inequality and gender inequality (see SDG 10 and 5); and promoting responsible consumption and production (see SDG 12).

We work to build partnerships and strengthen the means of implementing sustainable development by prioritising partnerships in our approach to implementing our sustainability strategy, addressing our most material environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts, and contributing to the achievement of all our priority SDGs ( see Strategy and Partnerships for sustainability).